Touring Story Structures Around the World
An Epic continuation
Let’s just say, some structures we know but don’t really talk about all that often. Some structures may not be lost to time, but they feel that way because hearing the structure's name may evoke memories of hearing about Homer’s The Odyssey in high school. Epics, as a genre, seem to be focused on those classics. The Illiad. The Odyssey. Great Greek epic poems.
But epic does not stop at what I feel is commonly perceived as the only note-worthy epics (i.e., Homer’s classic epic poems)—that is, poetry. Epics as a narrative fiction genre do appear to have evolved from epic poetry.
The question is: what is an epic (and we’ll be talking in the broad sense of the word, not just poems)? Epics tend to be considered epics due to their length, scope, and subject matter. Per Wikipedia and its sources: “In Ancient Greece, Epic was used in the form of a noun. Epic (noun) refers to a long poem, book, movie, etc. that tells the story of a hero's adventures.” (Quoted from "Epic Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-11-14). Oh,… a hero’s adventure. Gee… that sounds familiar (cough cough The Hero’s Journey cough cough). But modern times call for a modern take: long literature that still focuses on the values of a given society.” As we also know, epic as an adjective is something impressive or very large.
So, we tend towards very long stories, focusing on society's values. Of course, modern-day storytelling is not just within the written form. We have audio, television, and movies/cinema. Interestingly, I guess this example makes sense, but it has expanded over the years: Star Wars is considered a “modern cinematic epic.”
Referencing the amazing Kim Yoonmi’s article, she notes that an epic is often many stories strung together (again, like Homer’s The Illiad, which was broken into 24 books).
She points out that there are generally two ways to interconnect the many stories that make up an epic: pivot-then-hook or hook-then-pivot. Even within an epic, which method is used to connect the stories may change depending on the story being told.
This might all sound familiar, too, right? A little like… oh… procedural dramas on television? Talking American TV (though likely the same for European TV many times too, but European TV is not my forte other than Doctor Who), many times, the viewer will see the hook at the end of an episode. Let’s use… oh, Burn Notice as an example (it just happens to be the show I am rewatching right now). Michael Weston is looking for the people who burned him from government work while on a job. In many episodes, he may have a smaller plotline (helping a person of the week), but the overarching plot is that he is looking for the people who burned him so he can get his life back. Many times, at the end of an episode, after he has saved the person of the week, there will be a little tidbit connecting to the overarching story. A meeting with someone who has information, intel that gets Michael one tiny step closer to the truth… and that little bit of information is not enough to go on but leads to the next episode or story and draws the watcher back the following week.
This strategy is something we see play out in many procedural dramas, specifically revolving around crime and superhero dramas (which employ many of the same setups, tropes, and themes). The Flash, especially the first season, did a great job of this when there was a huge focus on who killed his mother, the Reverse-Flash. There would be the “monster of the week”, as many call it, but then a little ending piece that hooks the watcher, revealing a new detail that connects to the overarching plot.
Something interesting: Kim Yoonmi notes that now we see this far more employed in television than in literary structure. Considering the popularity of serialized novels/graphic novels, I think it might be employed just as often.
Speaking of serialized novels, I personally think that epic is a fantastic way to describe serialized novels. Many times, a serialized novel employs these same techniques to hook and pivot (or the reverse) to connect many small stories into the overarching plot. Like serialized television, a serial author wants to bring their audience back for more. A hook and an overarching plot connect many smaller stories together to form the novel itself. Here, I think of the Apothecary Diaries light novels. In a way, they feel very much like a serial novel. Many smaller stories are connected with minor hooks (not the same as an epic, maybe, or not as connected, but I think there could be an argument made that it is in the style of an epic).
I think there are more epics out there than many people think of off the top of their heads (Homer). The Lord of the Rings, for example, is an epic. But on the same token, I believe that Ash’s journey in Pokemon could be considered an epic as well (maybe?). For anyone who reads serials religiously, there are the same elements you see in an epic, so likely many serials/graphic novels read today likely fit within the epic genre.
But what do you think? Can you classify something you read as an epic?
Speaking of serials, Chapter 2 of my new serial should be out later this week. If you missed it, check out Shutdown Syntax Chapter 1 here!