{"product_id":"epic-frederick-turner-9781412849449","title":"Epic: Form, Content, and History","description":"\u003cp\u003eEpic does many things. Among others, it defines the nature of the human storyteller; recalls the creation of the world and of the human race; describes the paradoxical role of the hero as both the Everyman and the radical exception; and establishes the complex quest underlying all human action. \u003cem\u003eEpic \u003c\/em\u003eillustrates that these ingredients of epic storytelling are universal cultural elements, in existence across multiple remote geographical locations, historical eras, ethnic and linguistic groups, and levels of technological and economic development.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrederick Turner argues that epic, despite being scoffed at and neglected for over sixty years, is the most fundamental and important of all literary forms and thereby deserves serious critical attention. It is the source and originof all other literature, the frame within which any story is possible. The mission of this book is to repair gaps in the literary understanding of epic studies--and offer permission to future epic writers and composers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe cultural genres of Marvel Comics, gothic, anime, manga, multi-user dungeon gaming, and superhero movies reprise all the epic themes and motifs. Consider \u003cem\u003eThe Wizard of Oz\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eStar Wars\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Lord of the Rings\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eLost\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Matrix\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eSuperman\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eHarry Potter\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eNarnia\u003c\/em\u003e. Here can be found the epic beast-man, the miraculous birth of the hero, the creation myth, the founding of the city, the quest journey, the descent into the land of the dead, the monsters, and the trickster. This book will be of interest to all readers fascinated by folklore, oral tradition, religious studies, anthropology, mythology, and enthusiastic about literature in general.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Frederick Turner\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1412849446\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781412849449\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Routledge\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/15\/2012\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 386\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.45lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.20h x 6.30w x 1.00d","brand":"Frederick Turner","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48088184979711,"sku":"9781412849449","price":190.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_45fa01fc-d556-4d3e-943d-de808fc97d84.jpg?v=1769103525","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/epic-frederick-turner-9781412849449","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}