What is an epic ?

Epic [মহাকাব্য)]:

(i) Epic means a long narrative poem that tells in grand style the history and aspirations of a national hero.

(ii) A long narrative poem dealing with heroic theme and adventure. (সুদীর্ঘ রোমাঞ্চকর কাহিনীকাব্য, মহাকাব্য)।

There are two types of epic:

(1) Primary or Oral epic:

A Primary epic is a type of epic with which the epic tradition began. In a primary epic the episodes taken from the oral tradition are linked with one another to make a longer story.

Examples: Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are primary epics.

(2) Secondary or Literary epic:

The Secondary or Literary epic is the one which imitated the tradition of the primary epic. A primary epic displays savage and rude heroism but a sec-ondary epic shows a more refined taste.

Examples: Virgil's Aeneid, Dante's Divine Comedy and Milton's Paradise Lost are secondary epics.

ইংরেজি সাহিত্যের বিখ্যাত মহাকাব্য ও রচয়িতা :