The Border Ballads, for instance, and the Robin Hood Ballads, clearly suppose a state of society which is nothing but a very circumscribed and not very important heroic age.

Quote by Lascelles Abercrombie

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Epic poetry exhibits life in some great symbolic attitude. It cannot strictly be said to...

Epic poetry exhibits life in some great symbolic attitude. It cannot strictly be said to...

The epic poet has behind him a tradition of matter and a tradition of style;...

The epic poet has behind him a tradition of matter and a tradition of style;...

There is only one thing which can master the perplexed stuff of epic material into...

There is only one thing which can master the perplexed stuff of epic material into...

That is to say, epic poetry has been invented many times and independently; but, as...

That is to say, epic poetry has been invented many times and independently; but, as...

But the development of human society does not go straight forward; and the epic process...

But the development of human society does not go straight forward; and the epic process...

The world knows of a vast stock of epic material scattered up and down the...

The world knows of a vast stock of epic material scattered up and down the...

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.

An epic is not made by piecing together a set of heroic lays, adjusting their...

An epic is not made by piecing together a set of heroic lays, adjusting their...

By the general process of epic poetry, I mean the way this form of art...

By the general process of epic poetry, I mean the way this form of art...

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

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

With several different kinds of poetry to choose from, a man would decide that he...

With several different kinds of poetry to choose from, a man would decide that he...

But the gravest difficulty, and perhaps the most important, in poetry meant solely for recitation,...

But the gravest difficulty, and perhaps the most important, in poetry meant solely for recitation,...

Poetry is the work of poets, not of peoples or communities; artistic creation can never...

Poetry is the work of poets, not of peoples or communities; artistic creation can never...

The epic poet collaborates with the spirit of his time in the composition of his...

The epic poet collaborates with the spirit of his time in the composition of his...

For the stage displays the first vigorous expression, as the natural thing and without conspicuous...

For the stage displays the first vigorous expression, as the natural thing and without conspicuous...

It is more difficult to keep the attention of hearers than of readers.

It is more difficult to keep the attention of hearers than of readers.

Traditional matter must be glorified, since it would be easier to listen to the re-creation...

Traditional matter must be glorified, since it would be easier to listen to the re-creation...

It seems difficult, sometimes, to believe that there was a time when sentiments now become...

It seems difficult, sometimes, to believe that there was a time when sentiments now become...

The reason can only be this: heroic poetry depends on an heroic age, and an...

The reason can only be this: heroic poetry depends on an heroic age, and an...

No poet will ever take the written word as a substitute for the spoken word;...

No poet will ever take the written word as a substitute for the spoken word;...