Karnabharam ( Karna’s Task)

 Karnabharam ( Karna’s Task)

Dr Swati Joshi 

Karna’s Task is considered as tragic narratives in one act play. It can be said that the play is protagonist centric deals with the tragic flaw of Karna and sometime known as ‘The Tragedy of Karna.’ The Play represents the mental and emotional struggle of Karna. From the very beginning to the end the character of Karna is shown as in the Psychological character. Karna and Indra can be considered as the central character on which the plot revolves. The Play begins with the as usual entry of stage manager. This is the same common pattern of Bhasa to begin his play. The Stage Manager pray to God and after that he wanted to announce something and suddenly he heard some noise. 

“May the Fortune bring you good fortune – he that smites the hosts hostile to the gods. The sight of him in his lion from sacred the world and underworld, with all the multitudes of men and women, gods and fiends. “Twas he that burst the breast of the demon king with the axe edge of his nails.”30 

The stage manager is the part of prologue of the play. There are other characters like Soldier, (on the side of Kuru) Karna, Salya, Indra and Angel. Comparative to other plays of Bhasa this play has very less characters but they are very important and interwoven. Salya is the driver of the chariot of Karna who constantly communicates and directs Karna regarding the intentions and activity of Indra. Indra is another important character and it can be declared that without him the play would have failed in developing of Karna’s character.  Another character is Angel but it is Indra only in form of Angel. After the entry of the stage manager the soldier comes to us and shows the circumstance of war and in the very beginning of the play we come across with the Bhasa’s common description of plays of War. These elements somewhere gives the proof of the authenticity of the plays of Bhasa. There is description of Sun whose comparison is done with Karna. Bhasa has used the elements of nature like sun, Agni, earth  and also dealt with different emotions like black misery, art of war, learning wish, cheating, hope, the dilemma of “to be or not to be” curse etc all are the words used by Bhasa in this Play. In this it can be said that Karna’s Task is a beautiful play by Bhasa that represents Karna’s mental status and his struggle when he was in the state of war. The name of the play itself suggests that Karna is having burden (bharam) on him. But here the question is what kind of burden Karna is facing or struggling with in.  Let’s discuss it. 

“During the interval time that elapsed between the verbal gift of the Kundalas and their actual delivery, those Kundalas were felt as if a burden (bhara) to his ears (Karna) by Karna.”31 

Dr. Swati Joshi

Gujarat 

Urubhangam (The Broken Thighs)

 Urubhangam  (The Broken  Thighs)

Dr. Swati Joshi

Gujarat 

The Broken Thighs is a pathetic, painful and critical description of the single combat between Duryodhana and Bhima which is presented in one act play. The play presents not only the combat of these two but the horrible emotional, psychological and social impact on the every character of this play. Duryodhana and Bhima can be considered as the chief characters of the play but the other characters are also like back bone to the chief characters. The other characters are Stage manager who begins the play with the beautiful description of the requesting to Kesava for the victory on the enemy by giving the example of Arjuna who got victory on his enemy. Then there is the entry of Assistant of the Manager who takes the responsibility to introduce other characters of the play and create excitement and eagerness of the audience to talk about new characters and the narrative moves further. These two characters play an important work on audience psychologically as well emotionally because Assistant talks about the war condition and bloody results. 

“The Sutradhara or stage manager appears and starts talk with an actress, who is supposed to be his wife, or with his assistant one of the actors, for the purpose of saying a few words in praise of the author of the piece, that is being staged in order to attract the attention of the audience towards the play and to prepare them for its presentation. The interlude always ends with an allusion to the characters that are appearing in the particular play.”2 

There are three soldiers in the play next who takes the responsibility to describe the battle, the blood, the sacrifices and the splendor of Great War with the description of lots of elephants, vultures, jackals etc. These three soldiers are there to provide an impression of severe war and the recent activity of the war. This description is completely different from the epic description.

“The Elephant as a ‘determinant’ placed beneath the anthropomorphic symbol of divine powers is common in Sanskrit Drama.”3 

The three soldiers show pity and fear on the death of the soldiers. They talked about clouds, mountains, sea, earth, sky and wind. In Sankrit Drama the clouds, mountain, sea, earth, sky and wind is a myth that symbolizes that they believe in God and they are in need of help from God. When people think that the situation is now out of control, they recall these Gods and believe that now divinity will take care of them. The same thing is happen in Urubhanagam where after getting the alarm situation in war these three soldiers are pleading them for mercy. 

“Most Hindu preferred to believe that God was above fate, that he programmed evil into his creation willingly or unwillingly.4 

Then the next character is Baladeva who is the witness of the injustice done by Bhima on Duryodhana. Baladeva knows that Bhima has done wrong thing but he cannot do anything to save him. The character of Balarama is presented as strong individual personality who sees this bad politics and ethics rules break activity and become angry on Bhima. The next chief character is Duryodhana who is presented as the hero of the play and having good quality. 

“One of the meanings of Duryodhana is ‘one who is difficult to conquer.”5 

He fights like a real soldier in the war with honesty and follows the rules of war and maintains his personal ethics also. He is presented as brave and respected soldiers in the play. Bhasa has used one another name for Duryodhana in his play as ‘Suyodhana’. Gandhari his mother is calling him as Suyodhana. 

“Suyodhana – usually known as Duryodhana (a derogatory term signifying one who does not know how to use weapons or power) is a name given to him by his detractors.6 

The question arises that why the word is related with Duryodhana.  The answer is related with Pandavas who did not want to call him by his name Suyodhana. They call him Duryodhana.

“Though named Suyodhana the Pandavas used the derogatory “Dur” to slander him as “One who does not know how to wield    power or arms.”7 

After Duryodhana Next character is very clearly represented by Bhasa is Bhimasen. Bhima is as good as Duryodhana in the mace fighting. There is no dialogue of Bhima in complete play. Bhasa has not given the opportunity to talk or express the feelings of Bhima. Even the name of the Bhima is not in the list of the characters in the beginning of the play. First soldier is talking about Bhima and Krishna when Krishna gives the indication to Bhima to beat Duryodhana on his thighs. 

“Bhima became an eyesore to Duryodhana as the latter was also a mace fighter and considered himself no less an expert in this art.” 8 

It shows that Bhasa was very clear in writing The Broken Thighs that he will give the quality of the hero to Duryodhana and for that he has not even gives space to Bhima for the interaction with the audience. A great ability of Bhasa can be seen here. Next character is Dhritrashtra, Gandhari, (Duryodhana’s father and mother) Malavi and Purvi they both are Duryodhanas’ queens.  Durjaya is Duryodhan’s son. He is the added character by Bhasa who is not in the original Epic. Durjaya is represented as very young son of his who wanted to sit on the thighs of his father. The next character is Asvatthama who is the son of the old preceptor Drona who at last takes the oath to kill all the members of the family of Pandavas. 

“Urubhangam is a tragedy, viewed from Aristotle’s point or that of Hegel. According to Aristotle, the proper subject for a tragedy is the spectacle of a man, an ordinary human being not absolutely good or wise, who is brought to disaster by some frailty in him; it evokes feelings of fear and compassion and thereby purges the soul.”9 

Plot Construction  of  The Broken Thighs (Urubhangam)

The meaning of the title of the play is smash (bhanga) and thighs means (uru). There is the description of club fight between Bhima and Duryodhana. The warriors come on the stage after the interlude finishes and provide detail evidence of the war field. The war field is completely full of elephants, jackals, vultures. There are lots of dead bodies in the war field and vultures are eating fresh flesh of the soldiers. After the description of dead soldier the play shifted to another place where there is duel combat between Bhima and Duryodhana. Vyasa, Vidura, Balarama and Krishana were there to witness the great and terrifying combat of mace. Both Bhima and Duryodhana are very strong in the mace fight. Behind the curtain there is terrible noise that gives idea of the struggle of Bhima and Duryodhana. The soldiers are giving their opinion that physically Bhima is stout but even Duryodhana is very skilled in the mace fight. But during the middle of the fight Bhima got a strong knock-back on his head and he fell down to the earth. After seeing that the follower of Pandavas become anxious. Then Duryodhana abuses Bhima and says that he is not going to kill Bhima. If Bhima is alive then this will be the mercy of Duryodhana. But there is one strong character in the play Balarama who believed in the disciple and ethical mace fight. He is the elder brother of Krishna. He is neither the side of the Pandavas not the Kauravas. He believes in honesty and moral ethics of war. But Lord Krishna knows very well that it is impossible for Bhima to defeat Duryodhana with the ethics of war. Krishna decided to take another different path and gives signal to Bhima to strike on the thighs of the Duryodhana with mace. Bhima is very sure that whatever instruction is given by Krishna is for the betterment of the Pandavas. Then Bhima without thinking of single minute strikes on the thighs with mace. This act was completely against the rule of the club fight. Duryodhanas thighs are broken completely and bleeding can be seen on the ground. After this incident Vyasa decided to go to the heaven but Balaram became angry on Bhima and Krishna. He shows his anger on Bhima because Bhima has broken the rules of war and done this act. This is unjust done to Duryodhana by Bhima. Vyasa has given the advice to take away Bhima from this place for the betterment of the Pandavas. 

In next scene there is the description of the shouting of the Balrama who is ready to kill Bhima because of his misdeed and he asked Duryodhana to wait for the sometime. But here Duryodhana stopped Balarama not to punish Bhima and let him go. Now Duryodhana is ready to go to heaven. 

“Nay, say not so. Bhima has fulfilled his vow, my hundred brothers have gone to heaven myself have come to such a pass Balarama. What can do war now?”10 

But Balarama is not ready to forgive Bhima and declare that he will kill all the Pandavas. Balarama is talking about the trick and injustice done to him. But Duryodhana stopped him and takes the initiative for saneness acceptance. After this soon the family of Duryodhana came as his father Dhrtrastra, his mother Gandhari and his two wives Malavi and Pauravi. Along with them the son of Duryodhana, Durjaya was in the battle field. They all are searching for Duryodhana. Duryodhana feels severe pain to see his family members. Duryodhana felt emotional and psychological pain in spite of his physical pain. 

“The sight of his queens crying aloud, walking on foot and bare headed without their usual veils, strikes a serious blow to Duryodhana.”11 

This pain is not enough for Duryodhana. Fate has played very serious game with him. He consoles his father Dhrtrastra and his mother Gandharai. He tries to console his queens also. But Duryodhana become more conscious and helpless when his son asked him to sit on his thighs. His Son asked him where you are going father. These questions made him cry and he became senseless for some time. He cannot bare the pain of his son’s wish. 

To give last greeting to his father Duryodhana tries to get up from the ground but he cannot get triumph and decreases down again on the ground. The emotional act between Duryodhana and Durjaya is the most tragic incident in the play. The discussion between father and son is heart tearing and poignant activity.  Dhrtrashtra remembers the death of the hundred sons at the time of the death of Duryodhana. But Duryodhana console his mother by saying that you should be proud of me that –

“Her son died in the war without showing his back and that he is dying in the same dignity in which he was born.”12 

He consoles his queens also by saying that you should not be lament on my death I am taking the death as the hero of the war. I have performed all the duties and rules of the war because of that I will go to the heaven. In the end Ashvathama comes on the stage with the loud voice. He takes the oath to kill the family of Pandavas. But Duryodhana tries to stop him by killing of the Pandavas and Krishna. Duryodhana requests him there is no use of killing because he has already lost his brothers and now he is also going to heaven. But Aswathama argues that now it is the question of his honor and he will kill the complete family of Pandavas. He also declares that after Duryodhana his son Durjaya will be the emperor of the kingdom. After hearing that Durjaya will be the king, Duryodhana feels content and remembers his dynasties. The end come with the death of Duryodhana and Aswathama take departure from there to kill the Pandavas and play finishes. 

 Relevance of The Broken Thighs in the Contemporary Context- 

It is believe that in modern contemporary society it is very difficult to understand people. They are not aware about their individual self. They have lots of problems to face during their lives. But they ignore the past or historical procedure from which our existing provision come into sight. In the same way Bhasa’s The Broken Thighs represents the past life, its vision and this vision will try to relate with the contemporary society. All wars are biggest relevance of all the plays of Bhasa based on the Mahabharata is that characters are changed but war is eternally going on in one or the other corner of the world. The war of Mahabharata was war of power and power of politics. War of Power and Power of Politics you find playing part in today’s world also with changed weapons, warriors and changed nature of war. But power politics plays its role the same way. Every individual and even the characters of Bhasa have to suffer due to war. The Broken Thighs has many characters like Duryodhana, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Malavi, Paurvi, Durjaya and Asvathama. Each and every character and their roles, actions, emotions say something which is directly or indirectly is related with today’s modern society and influenced by the condition of war. Let’s discuss the character of Duryodhana in context to war and see his relevance with the contemporary modern society. 

Dr. Swati Joshi

Gujarat 

Plays based on Epic

 Plays based on Epic

Dr Swati Joshi

Gujarat 

Indian Mythology represents culture, traditions, social norms, ethics, morality and all these came in form of Vedas and great Epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. These are the sources till now that provided the world its significance and gave rationale to life. The Vedas give space to lessen Vedana –sufferings, the longing of the impatient individual spirit. The Mahabharata and the Ramayana is not only just an epic but it is a torch bearer for every person who wants to live his ideal life. The Mahabharata and the Ramayana even in modern time has great relevance to contemporary society. Bhasa has also taken the help of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana to write his plays in Sanskrit Language. Bhasa has written thirteen plays in the Sanskrit language. There are six plays which are based on the Mahabharata and two plays which are based on the Ramayana but Bhasa has done changes regarding the narratives and represented all the characters in different perspective. The six plays which are based on the Mahabharata are- 

1 DutaGhatotkacam (Potsherd As an Envoy)

2 Dutavakyam (The Embassy)

3 Karnabharam (Karna’s Task)

4 Madhyama-Vyayoga  (The Middle One)

5 Pancaratram (The Five Nights)

6 Urubhangam (The Broken Thighs) 

The two plays which are based on the Ramayana are- 

1 Abhisheka Natakam (The Consecration)

2 Pratima Natakam (The Statue Play)

As discussed above that Bhasa has taken the story from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana or can be assumed that re- reading of the legends of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.  It was a great challenge accepted by Bhasa to write about the different characters of the Mahabharata from different opinion because audience will always tries to relate the main characters of Bhasas’ plays with the character of the Mahabharata, e.g Duryodhana, Karna, and Ghatotkach and characters of the Ramayana as Rama, Sita and Lakshman. Bhasa represented most of the characters not only in different perspective but also tried to fix in the same theme of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The theme and the name of the characters, their responsibility and even their acts and narratives, events and circumstances are completely based on the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Bhasa has used popular stories as the plot of his dramas and represented in such a way that it works in form of dialogues. Bhasa used exceedingly inventive method that made the audience to go back to the readings of original resources without delay and the reading will give clear and innovative perspective towards the plays of Bhasa. The Plays of Bhasa can be seen as the unconventional or another different tone or attitude may be incorporated into the original or traditional narratives like the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, and in folk lore also. Another chief aspect of the plays of Bhasa is the characters, events and narrative component that stretch out at the outside edge of the manuscripts have a tendency to shift in the direction of  main point  or the crucial peak of the story. This mentality ruins the conformist hierarchies that give firmness to the original narrative. In the original plays the characters are represented as the rejected, disgraced and disrespected and struggling way. These characters are represented in the category of villain and they are not counted as the central characters of the narratives. They brought back to the position of the central characters by Bhasa in his Sanskrit Plays with an alternative perception. This different and alternative view point has given birth to new character as the main hero of his plays having good qualities and innocent personality. Bhasa became success to represent his characters with the heroic qualities; with innocent and virtuous personality because Bhasa used only one event or incident as separate event as there is no direct relation of this event to the original one. 

 “Turning to the Mahabharata plays first; we find in general that the poet is much indebted to the epic. In the once- act plays, some short episode is taken from the Mahabharata and freely dramatized.”1

Bhasa is considered as the realistic author who represents and relate his characters (men/women) with the contemporary world scenario. The characters of Bhasa are not wearing the mask of the fairyland. The special quality of the characters of the Bhasa is that they are not represented as superhuman, with imaginative peculiar qualities. As a result of this the audience and the reader of his plays accept his characters on the basis of realities and psychological perspective and accept their conditions, ups and down and also give sympathy to them. Almost every play of Bhasa has these characteristics. It would to fair to discuss his plays separately and individually to find out an alternate view point of Bhasa. I will discuss here three plays of Bhasa which is based on the Indian Epic the Mahabharata. 

1 The Broken Thighs

2 Karna’s Burden

3 The Middle one. 

Dr Swati Joshi

Gujarat 

Folklore Dr Swati Joshi Gujarat

 Folklore 

Dr Swati Joshi

Gujarat 

“Folklore, since the mid- nineteenth century, has been the collective name applied to sayings, verbal compositions, and social rituals that have handed down solely, or at least primarily, by word of mouth and example rather than in written form. Folklore developed, and continues even now, in communities where few if any people can read or write. It also continues to flourish among literate populations, in the form of oral jokes, stories and varieties of world play…….Folklore includes legends, superstitions, songs, tales, proverbs, riddles, spells, and nursery rhymes; pseudoscientific lore about the weather, plants and animals; customary activities at births, marriages, and deaths; and traditional dances and forms of drama performed on holidays or at communal gatherings.”56 

Folklore can be divided into three parts. 

1 Folk drama

2 Folk songs

3 Folktales

Dr Swati Joshi

Gujarat 

Two types of Epics

 

Dr. swati Joshi

Gujarat 

There are two types of Epics. 

1 Primary (Traditional) Epics

2 Secondary Epics

Traditional Epics are also known as Folk Epics. It talked about the culture directly in the form of oral and performance. This type of Epic is considered as ancient epic. The Epics which belongs to this category are- Gilgamesh- Sumerian Epic, Iliad and Odyssey in Greek culture, Shah Namesh, Bahman Nameh, Borzu Nameh, of Persia and the Ramayana and the Mahabharata of India. Primary or Literary Epic are written in regular and skillful technique but also influenced by traditional view point. For Example- Aneid of Virgil based on Illiad and Odyssey and the Biblical incident can be seen on Paradise Lost. 

Along with Traditional and secondary types of Epic the other third category can be seen which is based on its subject.  The categories are - Epics based on Mythologies, and Epics based on the life of the hero who deals with his heroic incidents and considered death as better option in comparison with embarrassment and humiliation.  For example- Rustam in Shah Nameh etc. The Religious Epic depicted hero as  man who is abide by religion and the plot and the theme based on Dharma only. For Example- The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, and celestial comedy of Dante. 

The Epic can be seen from its style, which is considered as majestic and having highest moral or spiritual value represented by using language and words.  Epic technique represents imagery,   enhancing its dignity and provide enormity to its theme.  In the Epic technique there is a comparison between heroes and animals/ Gods. They are sometime compared with lions, fishes, dragons, snakes etc. 

Epic technique or pattern is unique because of its uses of Exaggeration; not only dealing with imagery or symbols but also represents the truth of nature and universe. The Epic technique also deals with supernatural elements of heroes, villains, and Gods. This is most important technique of Epics. There is another good use of allegory in most of the Epics of the world. The characteristic of Epic is again significance to differentiate with the other genres. Epic is always describes combat, gallantry, voyage, obstacles, fights, encounters etc. The Epic cannot be called as an Epic without the description of animals and supernatural creatures.  For example- the horse (Xanthos) of Achilles who has the power to speak and can see the future even the death of Achilles. Rustom’s horse Raxsh, even Adam and Eve is having description of Snake and peacock. Ramayana describes the importance of animal as monkeys in form of Hanuman and his army, golden deer, horses, Jamvantji, -the big bird, seven headed dragon etc. It is believed that the heroes are in the form of Supernatural creatures in Epic. The quality of supernatural creature makes the Epic hero different and unique from the common hero of novel or any short story or poem. In Epic supernatural creature means having the quality of God like supremacy and heavenly attribute as the quality of sun, fire, water, having one part of human and another part of body is divine. For Example- Jesus is considered as the son of God, Rama is considered as God having the ability to spread spiritual and religious (Dharma) on the earth.  Another feature of Epic is its magical effect and the magic is in many forms. The magical effect can shape in form of saints, sages, dragons, Gods, death, life, birds and many more. Sometime magical effects work in symbolic meaning, not in literal or direct way. One can easily noticed direct or hidden aspect of magical effects in Epic. 

The chief characteristic of Epic is based on the war between two equally strong heroes but the twist comes when one hero is supported by God against another one. Then the war is converted into a war between hero who is having support of God (for Dharma) and another hero who has the support of evil (for destroying the Dharma) on the earth. Epic cannot be imagined without God and religion (Dharma). Epic work on Good and Evil and focuses on binary vision as for example- Sun- Moon, Black- White, Good- Bad and every Epic provide moral lesson and shows a path to humans “How to live life?”  

The hero of the Epic is considered as the nationalized or cultural hero because he is the only person who becomes the medium of any tradition to represents. For example- Milton’s Paradise Lost represent humanity through the medium of hero, Iliad did the same in form of Achilles, Rustom from Shah Namesh, Ram in Ramayana, Krishna and Arjun in Mahabharata. The heroes of Epic are more powerful in comparison to common man. They are courageous, independent, social, having various attitude and vision for the religion and society. Another chief characteristic of the Epic hero is his opponent and the enemy is also very powerful similar to the Epic hero. The Epic features are creating the events for war between hero and the enemy. For Example- Ram (hero) fights with Ravana (enemy) and the reason is kidnapping of Sita. 

The Epic is also about the long journey and travelling of the hero. For example- Rustom and Esfandiar, Odysseus, Ram, Pandavas etc. The Epic fights or war is literally between hero and the enemy but symbolically the war is between nations, cultures, traditions, good and evil, right and wrong, Dharma and Adharma, Theist and Atheistic, and the war has universal and unique appeal. The war represented different types of weapons used by heroes and the enemy. This type of description can be seen in Epic only. These weapons are having special and supernatural powers given be God at the time of the birth of the hero or another important character of the Epic. For Example- Indian Epic represents weapons like Bramastra – the weapon of Bhisma in Mahabharata,   Pashu – the weapon of God Parshuram, etc. Epic depicted politics as the main weapon in war. The death is the universal theme of Epic. The essential aspect of Epic is also revolving around curse and forecast which gives shapes to theme and plot.  Epic represents death of hero sometime death of evil and that turn Epic into Tragic Epic. But Indian Epics are not having any tragic end. 

  There are many Epics in the world which can be categorized as from the date of coming into existence. The Epics can be divided into three categories. 

1 Ancient Epics/ Earliest Epic (500 A.D)

2 Medieval Epics (from 500 to 1500 A.D)

3 Epics after 1500 A.D 

It is believed that Gilgamesh (around and approximated 3000 B.C) – Sumerian Epic is considered as the earliest Epic work in the category of Ancient Epic. After it Iliad and Odyssey (around 1000 B.C) by Homer is considered ancient Epic. But in Greek mythology it is believed that Theogony (700 B.C) is the earliest Epic in comparison with Iliad and Odyssey. The reason is that in Theogony there is the description about universe in Chaos and believed that everything comes from it. Indian Epic Mahabharata and Ramayana are also considered as Ancient Epic. It is believed that Ramayana was written by Valmiki   around 4 the century B.C and Mahabharata was written by Vyasa around 5th century B.C. Next is Aeneid - Latin great Epic Poem written by Virgil around 1st century described the Trojan War. During that period there were many works like Metamorphosees by Ovid- Latin Mythology, in Roman Mythology Pharsalia by Lucan. Virgil considered Ovid’s work as Epic on the basis of its method and tenor but it is rejected as an Epic because of the lack of vital hero. Lucan’s Pharsalia is about the battle between Caesar and Pompey. It is believed that it is an incomplete work. But it is renowned as the greatest epic poem in the world of Latin Literature. During the 2nd century in Indian Mythology there were many epic poems written as- Buddhacarita and Saundaranandakavya written by Asvaghosa. Buddhacarita is about the life of Goutama Buddha. There are 28 cantos written in Sanskrit but the first 14 are complete and the rest are incomplete. Saundaranandakavya is about the transformation of Nanda who is the brother of Buddha. Asvaghosa used the Kavya method for the description of preaching of Buddha. The Kavya method talked about the deliverance to attain the serenity. Indian Literature is very vast not limited with Sanskrit, Pali or Hindi Literature. Even in Tamil Literature there are many Epics during the 2nd and 5th centuries. 

The Epics are- 

1 Jaina Poet written Valayapati 

2 Tirutakakatevar written Civaka Cintamani 

3 Manimekalai written by Seethalai Saathanar 

4 Ilango Adigal written Silappadikaram 

5 Kundalakesi 

The third and fourth century witness the great epics like Posthomeric by Quintus Smyrnaeus, Greek Epic Poet. He has written about the Trojan War a continuous process after Homer. In fourth century Evangeliorum  libri is written by Juvencus, (Latin Poem) and Kumarasambhava and Raghuvamsa were  written by Kalidas. There two Epic poems of Kalidas is consider as the finest example of the use of Kavya method. During the 4th century De Raptu Proserpinae is again incomplete poem by Claudian – Roman Poet.  These are the Epics in form of Poetry and in the category of Ancient Epic. But some of the works only are considered as great and accepted Epics of that time. 

Medieval Epic period can be considered from 500 to 1500. It is believed that during this period most of the Epics cover the heroic poetry. 7th century witnessed the great Sanskrit epic Bhattikavya, and Astadhyayi based on Ramayana. It is considered as one of the Mahakavya in Sanskrit Literature. Another chief epic work of medieval Epic is Beowulf, considered as oral epic but there is not information about its author. Next is Bhagavata Purana another name is Bhagavata Geeta, is one of the main epic of Indian Mythology which is related with Mahabharata. Around tenth century Shah Nameh – Persian Epic emerged as medieval epic of that period. Along with Shah Nameh, Waltharius –Latin work written by Ekkehard St.Gall during the same period. There are six epic can be considered during the 11th century as – Arabic Literature Taghribat Bani Hilal, Greek Literature- Digenis Akritas, French work- The Song of Roland, The work of Tibet – Epic of King Gesar, The Epic of Manas from Kyrgyz.  12th century witnessed the great epics like – Shota Rustaveli, Georgian Poet has written - The Knight in the Panther Skin, Latin Epic – Alexandreis by Walter Chatillon, etc. Antar from Arabic Literature and Nibelunggenlied in the form of translation as The Song of the Niberlungs , De triumphis ecclesiae written by Johannes de Garlandia – a Latin Epic, Wolfram von Eschenbach  has written Parzival – a German Romance are the products of 13th century. The 14th century deals with the heroic poetic work of Dante who has written Divina Commedia – Italian literature which means The Divine Comedy, Petrarch has written Africa, The Epic of Japan is The Tale of the Heike. Matteo Maria Boiardo – the Italian poet has written Orlando Innamorato is the gift of 15th century epic literature. 

The Modern Epic Poetry can be called Renaissance Epic Poetry and considered as the uppermost structure of literature.  It is believed that during the period Epic Poetry has taken the shape of novel or a prose. Mikhail Bhaktin tried to explain the relation and balance between Epic and novel and also talked about how Epic can be seen as in form of Novel in his essay “Epic and Novel: Towards a Methodology for the study of Novel.”  He believed that novel is having all the quality as Epic is having. Even Novel can easily express the contemporary reality, and can adopt the change, but the problem is that we do not have common set standard forms for novel as in form of Epic or Poetry.  

The fact is that as we know Epic is the earliest and oldest genre of the world and having its unique structure, technique, narration, theme, plot, characters, form, content and characters.  It is assumed that all the unique features of Epic are in finished and final quality, and thus there is no scope of re-evaluation, changes and re- thinking. But Bakhtim discussed about Novel that Novel is like a clay pot that can be molded or even remolded according to the circumstantial fact, truth and necessity of present time. In contemporary world Epic is broaden to accept another forms as novels, plays, even movies in which the hero is in the centre position. Epic always keep hero as its centre one but in modern world it can be expected that heroines can be seen in the central position. 

“Even if we know very little about literature we know that the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Aeneid, the Divine comedy and Paradise Lost are epic poems, and once this is established we can make other definitions. The Rape of the Lock is a mock epic poem. War and Peace and Ulysses are novels with an epic quality, the Book of Job and Gilgamesh are near epics. It is fairly easy to reject other candidates as unworthy of being called epics; an epic is not just a long poem dealing with a philosophical subject like the Prelude or a long poem dealing with adventure and chivalry like Idylls of the king.”54 

Modern Epic is not only remains with its nation or culture but become the part of world. The features of Indian Epic can be seen in Greek Epic or in Japanese Epic. Epic means “Universally accepted work.”  It can be said that notable transformation of Epic can be seen age to age and these transformations in Epic categories it from ancient to modern Epics.  Scientific Films can be the part of modern Epic. For example- A Space Odyssey (1968) and Star Wars (1977), Disney movie like Hercules, Aladdin, Tarzan, The Lion King, The Jungle Book. 16th century symbolizes modern Epic in form of   Orlando Furioso by Aristo, La Araucana by Alonso de Ercilla Zuniga, Ramcharitmanans, by Goswami Tulsidas, Faerie Queen by Edmund Spenser etc. The 17th century modern Epics are- The Purple Island by Phineas Fletcher, Davideis by Cowley Abraham, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained by John Milton, Price Arthur by Richard Blackmore etc. The 18th century works are- Eliza by Richard Blackmore, Leonidas by Richard Glover, Rossiada by Mikhail Matveyevich Kheraskov, Vladimir by Mikhil Matveyevich Kheraskov etc.19th century modern Epic can be seen in the form of Milton: a poem by William Blake, The Lady of the Lake by Walter Scott, Don Juan by Lord Byron, Prometheus Bound by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, The Prelude by William Wordsworth, The City of Dreadful Night by James Thomson, Idylls of the king by Alfred Lord, etc. 20th century represents  modern epic as The Ballad of the White Horse by G.K.Chesterton, Kurukshetra,(1946) Rashmirathi,(1952) Uravashi, (1961) Ramdhari sing ‘Dinkar’ has written Hunkar – Epic poem , Frederick Turner has written Genesis: An Epic Poem etc. 

It can be said that nineteen and twenty century brought some queries and necessity to differentiate truthful Epic and something like the genre of Folk Epic. Previously it was considered that because of the Folk lore Epics came into being.  Another vision is that Epics were in oral form and the oral form is the part of Folk.  To give peculiarity to epic and folk a prefix is given to Epic as “Oral Epic” a kind of limit and difference and then modern description for the term folklore added the word Traditional to Oral Epic Poetry. Finally, a new word came in twentieth century –“Oral Traditional Epic Poetry.”  It differentiates Epic which is in the written form and Folk which is oral form. 

“The comparison between an epic, which has developed to us in manuscript and a folklore which has never been collected and must therefore only be hypothecated is predicated on several assumptions.”55 

Dr. Swati Joshi

Gujarat 

Various definitions of Epic-

 Dr.  Swati Joshi

Gujarat 

Various definitions of Epic-

“An epic is long narrative poem in elevated style, about the exploits of superhuman heroes. Traditional epics are also called ‘primary epics’ are part of oral tradition of a nation and involve myths and legends of nationhood.”48 

“In its strict sense the term Epic or Heroic Poem is applied to a work that meets at least the following criteria: it is a long verse narrative on a serious subject, told in a formal and elevated style, and centered on a heroic or quasidivine figure on whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race. There is a standard distinction between traditional and literal epics. ‘Traditional Epics’ (folk lore or primary epics) were written versions of what had originally been oral poems about a tribal or national hero during a warlike age…..  Literary Epics were composed by individual poetic crafts men in deliberate imitation of the traditional form.”49 

“Epic, a  long narrative poem celebrating the great deeds of one or more legendary heroes, in a grand ceremonious style. The hero, usually protected by or even descended from gods, performs superhuman exploits in the battle or in marvelous voyage, often saving or founding a nation as in Virgil’s Aeneid (30-20 BCE) or the human race itself in Milton’s Paradise Lost.”50 

Aristotle discussed Epic in his Poetics – 

“Epic poetry resembles tragedy in so far as it is an imitation in verse of what is morally worthy: they differ in that the epic has only one meter and is narrative in form. They also differ in length, for tragedy tries to confine itself, as much as possible, within one revolution of the sun or a little more, whereas the time of an epic is unlimited.”51 

“A long narrative poem, on a grand scale, about the deeds if warrior or heroes incorporating myth legends folk tale and history. Epics are often of national significance in the sense that they embody the history and aspirations of a nation in a lofty or grandiose manner.”52 

Every Epic of every nation represents its culture, traditions, belief, history and rules and regulation of Nation.  It was considered that Epic is always in form of poetry, but modern time considered that Epic can be seen in poetry, prose, dramatic presentation, and even in films. Epic deals with social, religious values, and laws, customs of a society.  Epic can be seen or judge from its setting, plot, theme, style, incidents, hero and supernatural elements.  The other technical aspects are  unity of action, promptness, the beginning of the epic, middle and the end of  the epic, the apply and impact of supernatural elements, predictions, the appellation which is recurring, and the moral message as truth, Dharma, virtue and vice, poetic justice, symbols and myth, love, death, hate, power and politics. 

“As we try to define a term like epic we must keep in mind that the study of literature is not a science that while a good deal of literary study requires close reading and logical analysis, intuition and feeling also play major roles. One person’s epic is another person’s romance.53 

Dr. swati Joshi

Gujarat 

Epic

 Dr. Swati Joshi

Gujarat 

Epic- 

Epic is believed as one of the ancient structure of legendary venture. The process of listening and narrating something cannot be seen in the form of Epics.  Most of the Epics deal with description of heroism with cultural and traditional touch and familiarity of society. Epics deal with its myth and legends.  One can noticed the spoken narration during the time of religious rituals and social but all the narratives cannot be considered as an Epic. The condition to be considered narrative as gathering an epic is the raise technique and articulation of that narrative.  Epics broadcast at various different places, from one era to another era; circumstantially changes build up into its structural effort, the traditions, cultural aspect, ethnicity, and principles of the people. It can be said that there is such established pattern, once we follow and when it moves to others people do some changes according to their necessity. Every culture has its own epic in the form of the celebration of the heroism and on the name of culture. It can be noticed that there are similarities of epics of different cultures as the characteristics of heroes or the others characters of the epics. The main characteristic of epic is its hero who undergoes many incidents in his pursue.  

The word Epic is resulting from the Greek word ἐℼᶩḱὁζ   (epikos’pi) which means “word, story, poem’.  We heard about Epic and then the imagination of our brain try to relate Epic with narration in poetry, and the immense deeds of heroes and the involvement of divine energy in human life.  But there are less people who think about language, narrations, incidents, and thrill as part of Epic and which makes Epic different and unique from other common genres. 

Dr. Swati Joshi

Gujarat