What Are The Main Characteristics Of An Epic Poem?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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An epic poem is a lengthy, narrative work of poetry. These long poems typically

detail extraordinary feats and adventures of characters from a distant past

. The word “epic” comes from the ancient Greek term “epos,” which means “story, word, poem.”

What are the characteristics of epic poem?

  • The hero is outstanding. …
  • The setting is large. …
  • The action is made of deeds of great valor or requiring superhuman courage.
  • Supernatural forces—gods, angels, demons—insert themselves in the action.
  • It is written in a very special style (verse as opposed to prose).

What is the main character of an epic poem called?


An epic hero

is the main character of an epic poem that tells the story of a grand quest in which they use their extraordinary or superhuman abilities to achieve great things. In literature, a hero is simply the protagonist, or main character.

What are the four main elements of an epic poetry?

  • Beginning of Poem and Story. …
  • Setting. …
  • Main Character. …
  • Gods, Other Deities and Divine Places. …
  • Epic Simile. …
  • Epithets and Patronymics. …
  • Long Speeches, Histories and Descriptions.

What are seven characteristics of an epic poem?

But what can we say are the main traits of epic heroes? There are seven main traits of epic heroes; they are of noble birth or elevated status. They have

superhuman capabilities

, are a vast traveler, an unmatched warrior, a cultural legend, demonstrate humility, and finally, battle superhuman foes.

What are the 6 characteristics of an epic?

  • Plot centers around a Hero of Unbelievable Stature. …
  • Involves deeds of superhuman strength and valor. …
  • Vast Setting. …
  • Involves supernatural and-or otherworldly forces. …
  • Sustained elevation of style. …
  • Poet remains objective and omniscient.

What are three characteristics of an epic poem pick three?

  • Legendary Heroic Figure. A figure of heroic stature, of international importance, and of great historical significance.
  • Grand Setting. A setting vast in scope, covering nations, the world, or even the universe.
  • Amazing Actions. …
  • Supernatural Forces. …
  • Sustained Elevation. …
  • Omniscient and Objective Poet.

What are characteristics of an epic quizlet?

Epic: The epic is a long narrative poem on a

serious subject representing characters of heroic stature in adventures of great historical, legendary, or religious significance

. The setting of the work is vast in scope, covering a whole nation, the world, or even the universe.

What are five elements of an epic poem?


Gods, demons, angels, time/space travel, cheating death, immortality, and other supernatural elements

.

What are the three elements of an epic poem?

An epic is a long, often book-length, narrative in verse form that retells the heroic journey of a single person or a group of persons. Elements that typically distinguish epics include

superhuman deeds, fabulous adventures, highly stylized language, and a blending of lyrical and dramatic traditions.

What are the 8 characteristics of an epic hero?

  • Champion of freedom. 1st trait of an Epic hero, that supports the idea of heros fighting with the forces of good v. …
  • Courage. 2nd trait of an Epic hero, when the hero continues the journey or task at hand, after they show fear.
  • Super Strength. …
  • Devotion. …
  • Loyalty. …
  • Love of Glory. …
  • Justice. …
  • Weakness.

What are the characteristics of the epic age in pre Spanish period?

The Epic Age-

a long narrative poems in which a series of heroic achievements or events, usually of a hero, are dealt with at length

. Folk songs are one of the oldest forms of Philippine literature that emerged in the pre-Spanish period. These songs mirrored the early forms of culture.

What are the 10 characteristics of an epic?

  • 1) magical protective devices. The hero is given magical protective devices.
  • 2) character traits. …
  • 3) theme. …
  • 4) formal diction and serious tone. …
  • 5) long, formal speeches. …
  • 6) timeless values- courage and honor. …
  • 7) setting vast in scope. …
  • 8) universal themes- good and evil, life and death.

What are the types of epic poetry?

Types of Epic. There are two main types of epic:

folk and literary

. Folk epic is an old form of epic poem that was originally told in oral form. Over time authors tried to preserve them by writing them down in hard copies.

What are the three characteristics of poetry?

  • Figures of Speech. Figures of speech, or figurative language, are ways of describing or explaining things in a non-literal or non-traditional way. …
  • Descriptive Imagery. Imagery is something concrete, like a sight, smell or taste. …
  • Punctuation and Format. …
  • Sound and Tone. …
  • Choice of Meter.

What are the characteristics of an epic hero in Beowulf?

Characteristics of an epic hero are

courageous, devoted, loves glory, and loyalty

. Beowulf fits each characteristic throughout the epic. He is distinctly known for being a warrior, a friend, and a loving leader.

What is the purpose of epic poetry?

An epic poem is a long, narrative poem that is usually

about heroic deeds and events that are significant to the culture of the poet

. Many ancient writers used epic poetry to tell tales of intense adventures and heroic feats.

What is the tone of an epic poem?

An epic poem is a long narrative poem dealing with the struggles and journeys of heroes, individually or in groups. The tone of the epic poems is

often elevated and the language stylised

, and their stories deal with inexorable fate, superhuman qualities, great deeds and extraordinary adventures.

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of an epic?

Every epic

extolls the valour, deeds, bravery, character and personality of a person

, who is having incredible physical and mental traits. Exaggeration is also an important part of an epic. The poet uses hyperbole to reveal the prowess of a hero.

What is the best description of an epic?

The definition of epic is something that refers to

a heroic story or something that is heroic or grand

. An example of epic is a big production movie with story sequels such as the Star Wars series. An epic is defined as a story or long poem telling the tale of a fictional or historical hero.

What is classical epic?

It is

a long narrative poem in which the characters and the action are of heroic proportions

. From the works of Homer and Virgil, certain characteristics have become established in the West as standard attributes of the epic. The main attributes are given below.

What epic elements do you find in Homer’s Iliad?

Other features of an epic lie in its exalted narrative style,

its unity of action, rapidity, the art of beginning, the use of the supernatural, the ornamental simple,the recurrent epithet etc

. The Iliad accommodates all these features.

What are the characteristics of a hero in literature?

  • Bravery.
  • Conviction.
  • Courage.
  • Determination.
  • Helpful.
  • Honesty.
  • Inspirational.
  • Moral integrity.

What are the basic features of a primary epic?

These primary epics have features in common –

a central figure of heroic, even super-human caliber, perilous journeys, various misadventures, intellectual capacity a strong element of the supernatural forces that shape the action, conflict in the form of battles or other physical combat

, repetition of fairly long …

What is an epic in literature?

epic,

long narrative poem recounting heroic deeds

, although the term has also been loosely used to describe novels, such as Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, and motion pictures, such as Sergey Eisenstein’s Ivan the Terrible. In literary usage, the term encompasses both oral and written compositions.

What is the characteristic of folk songs?

An important characteristic of a song or piece in traditional folk culture is, thus,

its dependence on acceptance by a community

—that is, by a village, nation, or family—and its tendency to change as it is passed from one individual to another and performed.

What are the different characteristics of folk songs?

  • There are no set principles or written rules of the folk music. …
  • There is repetition in the songs of folk music. …
  • The lyrics of few folk songs are in the format of the questionnaires.

What is the example of epic?

Perhaps the most widely known epic poems are

Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey

, both of which detail the events of the Trojan War and King Odysseus’s journey home from Troy. These were written in Epic Greek (sometimes called Homeric Greek), although the dates of their composition are unknown.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.