#epic

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

— Lascelles Abercrombie

#continuous #epic #heroic #into #lays

Epic poetry exhibits life in some great symbolic attitude. It cannot strictly be said to symbolize life itself, but always some manner of life. ↗

— Lascelles Abercrombie

#attitude #cannot #epic #epic poetry #exhibits

That is to say, epic poetry has been invented many times and independently; but, as the needs which prompted the invention have been broadly similar, so the invention itself has been. ↗

— Lascelles Abercrombie

#broadly #epic #epic poetry #independently #invented

The first epics were intended for recitation; the literary epic is meant to be read. ↗

— Lascelles Abercrombie

#epics #first #intended #literary #meant

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. ↗

— Lascelles Abercrombie

#does #epic #exact #forward #go

There is only one thing which can master the perplexed stuff of epic material into unity; and that is, an ability to see in particular human experience some significant symbolism of man's general destiny. ↗

— Lascelles Abercrombie

#destiny #epic #experience #general #human

The epic poet collaborates with the spirit of his time in the composition of his work. That is, if he is successful; the time may refuse to work with him, but he may not refuse to work with his time. ↗

— Lascelles Abercrombie

#composition #epic #him #his #may

The epic poet has behind him a tradition of matter and a tradition of style; and that is what every other poet has behind him too; only, for the epic poet, tradition is rather narrower, rather more strictly compelling. ↗

— Lascelles Abercrombie

#compelling #epic #every #him #matter

In an age robbed of religious symbols, going to the shops replaces going to the church. We have a free choice, but at a price. We can win experience, but never achieve innocence. Marx knew that the epic activities of the modern world involve not lance and sword but dry goods. ↗

— Stephen Bayley

#activities #age #choice #church #dry

It was my effort, in depicting the West, to depict it as it was. ↗

— Buffalo Bill

#depicting #effort #west