EPIC POEM—A GENRE, OR TYPE OF LITERATUE JUST AS NONFICTION, FICTION, AND DRAMA, WHICH HAS THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS: LONG NARRATIVE POEM SPEAKER IS A NARRATOR, TELLING A STORY THEME OR SUBJECT OF THE TALE IS IMPORTANT SETTING IS HUGE; IT MAY BE A SEA, A REGION, THE WORLD, OR A UNIVERSE THERE IS A MAIN CHARACTER, WHO IS, OR IS CAPABLE OF BEING, A HERO. ACTION INCLUDES EXTRAORDINARY OR SUPERHUMAN DEEDS. TYPICALLY, THE EPIC HERO HAS A GOAL AND HAS EMBARKED UPON A LONG JOURNEY.

IN THIS JOURNEY, HE STRUGGLES WITH NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL OBSTACLES AND ANTAGONISTS—GODS, MONSTERS, AND OTHER HUMANS—WHICH TEST HIS BRAVERY, WITS AND BATTLE SKILLS GODS OR SUPERNATURAL BEINGS TAKE PART, OR AN INTEREST, IN THE ACTION THE PURPOSE OF THE EPIC POEM IS NOT ONLY TO ENTERTAIN, BUT TO TEACH AND INSPIRE THE LISTENER OR READER WITH EXAMPLES OF HOW PEOPLE CAN STRIVE AND SUCCEED AGAINST GREAT ODDS.

EPIC NARRATION—AN EPIC IS NARRATED IN PREDICTABLE WAYS: 1.IN AN INVOCATION, THE POET-NARRATOR STARTS THE POEM BY STARTING THE TALE’S SUBJECT AND ASKING FOR POETIC INSPIRATION FROM A GUIDING SPIRIT. 2.THE NARRATOR BEGINS TELLING THE TALE IN THE “MIDDLE OF THINGS,” DESCRIBING WHAT IS HAPPENING AFTER CERTAIN IMPORTANT EVENTS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED. 3.THE NARRATOR INCLUDES SPEECHES BY THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS—INCLUDING GODS AND ANTAGONISTS OF THE EPIC HERO—WHICH REVEAL THEIR PERSONALITIES.

EPIC NARRATOR CONTINUED: 4.THE NARRATIVE’S TONE AND STYLE ARE FORMAL RATHER THAN CONVERSATIONAL. 5.THE USE OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE MAKES THE NARRATIVE VIVID AND EXCITING FOR LISTENERS AND READERS.

ADVERSITY--HARDSHIP; GREAT MISFOURTUNE FORMIDABLE—CAUSING FEAR, DREAD, AWE, OR ADMIRATION AS A RESULT OF SIZE, STRENGTH, POWER, OR SOME OTHER IMPRESSIVE QUALITY RAVAGE—DESTROY VIOLENTLY; RUIN ADVERSARY—ENEMY; OPPONENT RANCOR—BITTER HATRED; ILL WILL ABOMINABLY—IN AN EXTREMELY UNPLEASANT OR DISGUSTING MANNER ARDOR—PASSION; ENTHUSIASM TUMULT—COMMOTION; UPROAR; CONFUSION

VOCABULARY PART 1 CONTINUED RESTITUTION—COMPENSATION; REPAYMENT PROFUSION—LARGE SUPPLY; ABUNDANCE

VOCABULARY—PART II CANDOR—HONESTY; FRANKNESS DISDAINFUL—SCORNFUL; REGARDING SOMEONE AS BENEATH YOU ADORN—ADD BEAUTY TO; DECORATE REVERLY—MERRYMAKING; FESTIVITY GLOWERED—GLARED; STARED ANGRILY AVAILS—IS OF USE; HELPS LAVISH—GAVE GENEROUSLY ALOOF—AT A DISTANCE; UNFRIENDLY PLIANT—FLEXIBLE TREMULOUS—TREMBLING; SHAKING