Epic

- English - English Literature | | NCTB BOOK

An epic is a long narrative poem that recounts the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures. Epics are usually written in a formal and elevated style, and they often include supernatural elements, such as gods, monsters, or magic. Epics also reflect the values and beliefs of the culture that produced them, and they often serve as a source of inspiration and identity for their readers.

Some of the common characteristics of epics are:

They begin with an invocation to a muse or a deity, asking for inspiration and guidance in telling the story.
They state the theme or the main idea of the story in the beginning, usually in one sentence or phrase.
They use in medias res, which means starting the story in the middle of the action, and then using flashbacks or narration to fill in the background information.
They have a vast setting, covering many lands, regions, or even worlds, depending on the scope of the story.
They feature a hero who is of noble birth or high status, and who possesses extraordinary qualities, such as strength, courage, intelligence, or charisma.
They depict epic battles between the hero and his enemies, often involving large armies, fierce creatures, or divine intervention.
They include epic similes, which are long and elaborate comparisons that use words like “as” or “like” to describe something in detail.
They employ epithets, which are descriptive phrases that are used to identify a character or an object, such as “swift-footed Achilles” or “the rosy-fingered dawn”.
They incorporate catalogues, which are lists of people, places, things, or events that are relevant to the story, such as the names of the ships or the warriors in a battle.

Some of the famous examples of epics are:

The Epic of Gilgamesh: This is one of the oldest surviving works of literature, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia. It tells the story of Gilgamesh, a king who seeks immortality and friendship through his adventures with his companion Enkidu.
The Iliad and the Odyssey: These are two epic poems attributed to Homer, a Greek poet who lived around the 8th century BC. The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War, focusing on the conflict between Achilles and Hector. The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus, who faces many challenges and dangers on his way back home after the war.
The Ramayana and the Mahabharata: These are two epic poems from ancient India, composed between the 4th century BC and the 4th century AD. The Ramayana tells the story of Rama, a prince who rescues his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. The Mahabharata tells the story of the Kurukshetra War, a civil war between two branches of a royal family.
Beowulf: This is an epic poem from Anglo-Saxon England, written sometime between the 8th and 11th centuries AD. It tells the story of Beowulf, a hero who fights three monstrous enemies: Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon.
Paradise Lost: This is an epic poem by John Milton, a English poet who lived in the 17th century. It tells the story of Satan’s rebellion against God, his temptation of Adam and Eve, and their expulsion from Eden.