Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

[[Latin]] epicus, from [[Greek]] epikos, from epos [[word]], [[speech]], [[poem]] — more at [[voice]]

[[Latin]] epicus, from [[Greek]] epikos, from epos [[word]], [[speech]], [[poem]] — more at [[voice]]

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1589]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1589]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an epic <an epic poem>

*1 : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an epic <an epic poem>

*2 a : extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope <his genius was epic — Times Literary Supplement> b : heroic

*2 a : extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope <his genius was epic — Times Literary Supplement> b : heroic

==Description==

==Description==

An '''epic''' is traditionally a [[genre]] of [[poetry]], known as epic [[poetry]]. However in [[modern]] terms, epic is often extended to other art forms, such as [[novels]], [[theater]] and [[film]], where the [[story]] is centered on [[heroic]]  characters, and the [[action]] takes place on a grand scale, just as in epic poetry. Epics in this sense are [[majestic]] depictions that capture impressive [[struggles]], such as stories of [[war]], [[adventures]], and other [[efforts]] of great scope and size over long periods of time. The real life stories of [[heroic]] figures have also been referred to as being epic. Examples of notable epics include [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Shackleton Ernest Shackleton]'s [[exploration]] [[adventures]] in Antarctica, historical [[novels]] such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_and_Peace ''War and Peace''].

An '''epic''' is traditionally a [[genre]] of [[poetry]], known as epic [[poetry]]. However in [[modern]] terms, epic is often extended to other art forms, such as [[novels]], [[theater]] and [[film]], where the [[story]] is centered on [[heroic]]  characters, and the [[action]] takes place on a grand scale, just as in epic poetry. Epics in this sense are [[majestic]] depictions that capture impressive [[struggles]], such as stories of [[war]], [[adventures]], and other [[efforts]] of great scope and size over long periods of time. The real life stories of [[heroic]] figures have also been referred to as being epic. Examples of notable epics include [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Shackleton Ernest Shackleton]'s [[exploration]] [[adventures]] in Antarctica, historical [[novels]] such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_and_Peace ''War and Peace''].

==Epic Poetry==

==Epic Poetry==

An epic (from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Ancient Greek] adjective ἐπικός (epikos), from ἔπος (epos) "[[word]], [[story]], poem") is a lengthy [[narrative]] poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of [[heroic]] [[deeds]] and [[events]] significant to a [[culture]] or nation. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_poetry Oral poetry] may qualify as an epic, and Albert Lord and Milman Parry  have argued that classical epics were [[fundamentally]] an [[oral]] poetic [[form]]. Nonetheless, epics have been written down at least since [http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer Homer], and the works of Vyasa, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgil Virgil], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante Dante Alighieri] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Milton John Milton]  would be unlikely to have [[survived]] without being written down. The first epics are known as primary, or [[original]], epics. One such epic is the Anglo-Saxon story [[Beowulf]]. Epics that attempt to imitate these like Virgil's ''Aeneid'' and Milton's ''Paradise Lost'' are known as [[literary]], or secondary, epics. Another type of epic poetry is [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/epyllion epyllion] (plural: epyllia) which is a brief [[narrative]] poem with a [[romantic]] or [[mythological]] theme. The term, which means 'little epic', came in use in the nineteenth century. It refers primarily to the type of erotic and mythological long elegy of which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovid Ovid] remains the master; to a lesser degree, the term includes some poems of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Renaissance English Renaissance], particularly those [[influenced]] by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovid Ovid]. One suggested example of classical epyllion may be seen in the story of Nisus and Euryalus in Book IX of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeneid Aeneid].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_poetry]

An epic (from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Ancient Greek] adjective ἐπικός (epikos), from ἔπος (epos) "[[word]], [[story]], poem") is a lengthy [[narrative]] poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of [[heroic]] [[deeds]] and [[events]] significant to a [[culture]] or nation. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_poetry Oral poetry] may qualify as an epic, and Albert Lord and Milman Parry  have argued that classical epics were [[fundamentally]] an [[oral]] poetic [[form]]. Nonetheless, epics have been written down at least since [https://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer Homer], and the works of Vyasa, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgil Virgil], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante Dante Alighieri] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Milton John Milton]  would be unlikely to have [[survived]] without being written down. The first epics are known as primary, or [[original]], epics. One such epic is the Anglo-Saxon story [[Beowulf]]. Epics that attempt to imitate these like Virgil's ''Aeneid'' and Milton's ''Paradise Lost'' are known as [[literary]], or secondary, epics. Another type of epic poetry is [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/epyllion epyllion] (plural: epyllia) which is a brief [[narrative]] poem with a [[romantic]] or [[mythological]] theme. The term, which means 'little epic', came in use in the nineteenth century. It refers primarily to the type of erotic and mythological long elegy of which [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovid Ovid] remains the master; to a lesser degree, the term includes some poems of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Renaissance English Renaissance], particularly those [[influenced]] by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovid Ovid]. One suggested example of classical epyllion may be seen in the story of Nisus and Euryalus in Book IX of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeneid Aeneid].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_poetry]

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Hero]]'''''

*'''''[[Hero]]'''''

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]