Abstract
This study of John G. Neihardt as an epic writer has been undertaken with the purpose of discovering the influences social, economic and literary, that caused the poet to turn exclusively to this form of literary art, when he was already on the road to success in another channel, namely, the short story. But, when we fully realize that all human achievements are preceded by a philosophy of life which shapes them, so we feel that the study of Neihardt’s attitude to life may explain the change in the form of his art.