02329cam a22003013u 450000100060000000300070000600500170001300600020003000700050003200800410003704000110007804100170008905000070010610000390011324500250015226400510017730000470022833600260027533700260030133800360032750000310036350800620039452014250045653400450188165300410192685600430196799900170201010716UtSlPG20260610133246.0mcr n260607r2004||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aPN1 aAbercrombie, Lascelles,d1881-193814aThe Epic :bAn Essay 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2004  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aRelease date is 2004-01-01  aProduced by Garrett Alley and PG Distributed Proofreaders  a"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. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  nOriginal publication data not identified  aEpic poetry -- History and criticism40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10716  c52169d52169