The Epic: An Essay: Poetry Guide and Free Edition
The Epic: An Essay: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Epic: An Essay is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Abercrombie, Lascelles (1881–1938).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Epic" by Lascelles Abercrombie is an essay on epic poetry likely written in the early 20th century. The work examines the nature, development, and significance of epic poetry within the context of literature, rather than approaching it solely from sociological or historical perspectives. Abercrombie argues that epic poetry emerges as an art form reflecting the Heroic Age—a time characterized by individual greatness and personal valor, providing insight into human experience and cultural expression through its major themes and storytelling methods. The opening of the essay outlines Abercrombie's intent to analyze epic poetry not merely as a collection of traditional tales, but as a literary genre that evolves with society. He introduces the concept of the Heroic Age, a period that recenters the individual amid tribal existence, spurring the creation of epics. The author discusses how this era has birthed various epic traditions across cultures, noting their shared features and distinct differences. He emphasizes that true epic poetry transcends the mere collection of heroic tales, emerging from a singular artistic vision that binds narrative and meaning while evolving over time. The initial sections set the foundation for exploring how epic poetry has shaped and, conversely, has been shaped by the imaginative and cultural landscapes of its time.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Epic: An Essay
- Author credits: Abercrombie, Lascelles (1881–1938)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Epic poetry -- History and criticism
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches
- Category: Poetry
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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