2. A LONG story that includes actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes. Characteristics of the classical epic include these:

3. 1.The gods play an active role in the story Eris, the goddess of discord, caused the events that led to the Trojan War. Hera Athena Aphrodite

4. 2. LARGE setting: The setting covers several nations, the whole world, or even the universe

5. 3. LARGE cast of CHARACTERS Trojans HectorPriamParis Andromache Cassandra Hecuba OenoneAstyanax Greeks AgamemnonPatroclus Helen Odysseus NestorAchilles Myrmidons Menelaus Calchas Other PhiloctetesPentheselia Zeus Aphrodite Eris Thetis King Memnon AmazonsPoseidonHeraIrisAthenaApollo Hermes Dionysus Hephaestus

6. 4. The story often “goes off track” and into side stories that are not critical to the main story. Even though they relate to the main story, it would still make sense without them. main story SideSide SideSide

7. 5. Even though the stories are fictional (fake), they provide an answer to a “BIG” question related to their culture.

8. 6. Throughout the story, long periods of time pass. Ten years went by….

9. 7. The hero of the story follows most of the traits of the heroic code. Hero of the Iliad: Achilles Achilles depicted by Brad Pitt in the movie Troy (2004) Achilles depicted on ancient vase. (540 A.D.)

10. Modern Day Epics To name a few…