2. Epic Convention means the standard format for epic poetry

3. 1.Invocation to the Muse An invocation the act of invoking or calling upon a deity, spirit, etc.; asking for help or aid in telling the story-making it the best possible version of the story muse = minor goddess of areas of life

4. 2. in media res “in the middle” -epics begin in the middle of a story or action; no background is given or necessary

5. 3.In the very beginning, there is a statement about the poem’s theme

6. Epics have a serious tone and elevated style that reflect the importance of its characters and themes

7. Epic similes elaborate extended comparisons using like or as. In The Iliad there is a twelve line simile comparing Achilles’ pursuit of Hektor to a mountain hawk swooping down on a dove

8. 4. Stock Epithet(s) Homeric Epithet(s) Epic literature uses stock epithets. Stock = standard, regular epithet = a name/nick-name name + a description

9. Stock epithets were used to easily identify the characters and add richness to the story.

10. Some examples of stock epithets: Hektor, Tamer of Horses Achilles of the Swift Foot Gray-Haired Thetis Wily Odysseus

11. Zeus, Cloud Gatherer Zeus, Storm Bringer Zeus, Thunder Shaker Agamemnon, Son of Atreas