Lascelles Abercrombie

If epic poetry is a definite species, the sagas do not fall within it.

If epic poetry is a definite species, the sagas do not fall within it.

But the development of human society does not go straight forward; and the epic process will therefore be a recurring read more

But the development of human society does not go straight forward; and the epic process will therefore be a recurring process, the series a recurring series - though not in exact repetition .

By the general process of epic poetry, I mean the way this form of art has constantly responded to the read more

By the general process of epic poetry, I mean the way this form of art has constantly responded to the profound needs of the society in which it was made.

But the development of human society does not go straight forward; and the epic process will therefore be a recurring read more

But the development of human society does not go straight forward; and the epic process will therefore be a recurring process, the series a recurring series - though not in exact repetition.

An epic is not made by piecing together a set of heroic lays, adjusting their discrepancies and making them into read more

An epic is not made by piecing together a set of heroic lays, adjusting their discrepancies and making them into a continuous narrative.