1. Epic Poetry

2. “a long narrative poem presenting characters of high position in a series of adventures which form an organic whole through their relation to a central figure of heroic proportions and through their development of episodes important to the history of a nation or a race” – Tom Sienkewicz

3. Keys to Take Long, Narrative Poem Centered around character (often a hero) – Goes through series of adventures Adventures of the hero are important to a nation’s history Serious subject matter

4. Form of an Epic Narrative Poem Begins in medias res Invokes the Muse Large Scale Setting – Going around the world – Underworld travels Intervening Supernatural Figures Extensive battle scenes Hero is larger-than-life

5. Message/Moral Epics show: – Hero’s quest for knowledge – Hero’s struggle in world Oral tradition – Core of education – Ethics, politics, history, technology – Educate while entertaining