classification
Epic
A long narrative poem recounting the heroic deeds of legendary or historical figures, central to many ancient literary traditions.
Epics are extended narrative compositions that celebrate the achievements of heroic figures against a backdrop of national or cosmic significance. The world's major epics include the Gilgamesh (Mesopotamia, ~2100 BCE), the Iliad and Odyssey (Greece, ~8th century BCE), the Mahabharata and Ramayana (India), the Aeneid (Rome), Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon), the Nibelungenlied (German), the Kalevala (Finnish), and the Popol Vuh (Maya). Epics typically feature: a hero of national importance, vast settings spanning many nations, deeds requiring superhuman courage or ability, supernatural involvement (gods, demons, spirits), and an elevated narrative style. Many epics originated in oral tradition before being written down, and their composition often spans centuries of accretion and revision.
Examples
The Odyssey
Beowulf
The Mahabharata
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Related Terms
Oral Tradition
The practice of passing down stories, history, and culture from one generation to another through spoken word rather than written text.
Myth
A traditional story concerning the early history of a people or explaining natural or social phenomena, typically involving supernatural beings.
Culture Hero
A mythological figure who introduces important knowledge, technology, or customs to humanity, often through trickery or sacrifice.
