LESSON 10

4 GREAT EPICS OF EUROPE

1. The Nibelungenlied – from Germany

2. The Song of Roland – from France
3. El Cid – from Spain
4. The Divine Comedy – Italy

* Beowulf – oldest European epic.

 4 GREAT EPICS OF EUROPE

1. The Nibelungenlied – is an epic poem in Middle High

German. The story tells of dragonslayer Siegfried at the
court of the Burundians, how he was murdered, and of
his wife Kriemhild's revenge.
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2. The Song of Roland – from France

The Song of Roland is an 11th century Old French epic poem about the
Battle of Roncevaux Pass (or Roncesvalles) fought by Roland of the
Brittany Marches and his fellow paladins. The Song is based on historical
events surrounding the battle of August 15, 778 in which the rear-guard
of Charlemagne's retreating Franks was attacked by Basques; in the
ensuing massacre, Roland and other important paladins were killed. The
Song transforms the Basques into Muslims and takes other liberties with
the history. For instance, the Song has Charlemagne and a French army
returning to Spain and in retaliation driving the Muslims out of
Zaragoza.
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3. El Cid – from Spain

The only surviving medieval Spanish epic, it is widely considered Spain’s
national folktale, telling of fictionalized events at the formation of
medieval Spain in the 11th century. It is based on the true story of
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, a Castilian knight who in reality fought for both
Christian and Muslim forces, and explores chivalric themes such as
loyalty, honor, and justice. The narrative takes place during a pivotal
moment of destabilization in Muslim Spain, while various Christian
territories attempted to form and maintain alliances in northern Spain.
 4 GREAT EPICS OF EUROPE

4. The Divine Comedy – Italy

The epic poem, The Divine Comedy, is about the author's
journey towards God. It has three parts: Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio
(Purgatory), and Paradiso (Heaven). Each part consists of thirty-
three cantos. This division reflects the medieval theology specific to
Christianity. The purpose of Dante's Divine Comedy was to show
people the horrors their souls would go through if they did not
obey God's laws and did not live righteously.
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• Beowulf – oldest European epic.

Beowulf is an Old English epic poem consisting of 3182
alliterative long lines. It is possibly the oldest surviving long
poem in Old English and is commonly cited as one of the
most important works of Old English literature. It was
written in England some time between the 8th and the early
11th century. The author was an anonymous Anglo-Saxon
poet, referred to by scholars as the “Beowulf poet.”
 4 GREAT EPICS OF EUROPE
• Beowulf – oldest European epic.
The poem is set in Scandinavia. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes
to the aid of Hroðgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in
Heorot has been under attack by a monster known as Grendel.
After Beowulf slays him, Grendel’s mother attacks the hall and is
then also defeated. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland
(Götaland in modern Sweden) and later becomes king of the Geats.
After a period of fifty years has passed, Beowulf defeats a dragon,
but is fatally wounded in the battle. After his death, his attendants
bury him in a tumulus, a burial mound, in Geatland.
End of discussion