Lit. Term TuesdayLit. Term TuesdayEpic PoemEpic Poem

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Epic PoemEpic PoemDefined:

A long poem that tells a story details the heroic deeds and events

important to a culture or nation

Defined:A long poem that tells a story details the heroic deeds and events

important to a culture or nation

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Elements of Epic PoetryElements of Epic Poetry Important hero who has great

historical or legendary significance

Vast setting, covering many nations, or even worlds

Action consists of deeds of great courage, sometime even superhuman courage

Elevated language used throughout

Important hero who has great historical or legendary significance

Vast setting, covering many nations, or even worlds

Action consists of deeds of great courage, sometime even superhuman courage

Elevated language used throughout

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Literary ConventionsLiterary ConventionsOpens by stating the theme or cause

of the epic Invocation: writer invokes a Muse to

provide him with divine inspiration to tell the story of the great hero

In medias res: “in the middle of things” Poem opens in the middle of the story, when the hero is at his worst, then tells earlier parts of the story through flashbacks.

uses epithets: descriptive word or phrase in place of a person or thing.

Opens by stating the theme or cause of the epic

Invocation: writer invokes a Muse to provide him with divine inspiration to tell the story of the great hero

In medias res: “in the middle of things” Poem opens in the middle of the story, when the hero is at his worst, then tells earlier parts of the story through flashbacks.

uses epithets: descriptive word or phrase in place of a person or thing.

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Famous Epic PoemsFamous Epic PoemsEpic of GilgameshOdysseyIliadRamayanaAeneidBeowulfParadise Lost

Epic of GilgameshOdysseyIliadRamayanaAeneidBeowulfParadise Lost

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