The term “epic” has been infused so strongly into modern culture that it has become a nearly pointless concept. However, in the literary tradition, epic still remains in its due place. When seeking examples of epic, one must consider Homer’s “Iliad” as the most accurate one since it meets the definition precisely. Namely, since epic suggests a confrontation between people and gods, the conflict lying at the core of the “Iliad” can be considered a marker of an epic. Indeed, upon considering the poem, one will realize that not only people but also gods participate in the Trojan war (Homer, Iliad, Book III, Line 190; Whissell, 2019).
Specifically, gods such as Zeus and goddesses such as Hera and Athena actively participated in the initiation and fate of the Trojan war (Homer, Iliad, Line 200). For instance, Hera attempts to deceive Zeus into turning against the Trojans (Homer, Iliad, Book XIV, Line 190). Remarkably, the main antagonist of the poem is represented by a mortal, namely, Paris Alexandros (Homer, Iliad, Book III, Line 19; Whissell, 2019). The overall scale of the conflict and the involvement of gods are the key characteristics making the “Iliad” an epic in its traditional sense.
However, it would be wrong to believe that the concept of epic as a literary genre no longer exists in the modern world. Arguably, traditional heroes and the epic telling about their adventures have been replaced with the superhero narrative, such as in the movie “Wonder Woman.” Indeed, the similarities are quite striking since it also centers around a hero who is expected to astound the audience with his deeds (Sanchez, 2020).
Granted that the Ancient Greek understanding of a hero did not necessarily include a moral dimension, which has been regarded as essential for the present-day hero narrative, the movie in question also features the juxtaposition of gods and mortals while being set in the context of a global conflict, namely, WWI. Therefore, having been elevated to the status of stories that adults can enjoy watching, comic book epic narratives have replaced the traditional literary concept of an epic.
References
Homer. (n.d.). Iliad. (W. Cowper, Trans.). Project Gutenberg.
Sanchez, M. P. (2020). Monstrous heroes, epic monsters: A contemporary graphic adaptation of Beowulf. Journal of Comparative Literature and Aesthetics, 43(4), 79-89.
Whissell, C. (2019). According to their emotional plots, the Iliad is most likely tragic while the Odyssey is not. Athens Journal of Philology, 6(1), 53-64.