Epic, long narrative poem recounting heroic deeds, encompassing both oral and written compositions. The prime examples of the oral epic are Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. 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.

EPIC meaning: 1 : a long poem that tells the story of a hero's adventures; 2 : a long book, movie, etc., that usually tells a story about exciting events or adventures

Mar 27, 2025 · The fullest extant text of the Gilgamesh epic is on 12 incomplete Akkadian-language tablets found at Nineveh in the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (reigned 668–627 bce). The gaps that occur in the tablets have been partly filled by various fragments found elsewhere in Mesopotamia and Anatolia.

Most epics are legendary tales about the glorious deeds of a nation’s past heroes. The term originally referred to long narrative poems of heroic deeds among ancient peoples. Today the word epic is often more loosely applied to a book or motion picture that deals in a grand way with significant historical events.

epic, Long, narrative poem in an elevated style that celebrates heroic achievement and treats themes of historical, national, religious, or legendary significance.

Epic theater, form of didactic drama presenting a series of loosely connected scenes that avoid illusion and often interrupt the story line to address the audience directly with analysis, argument, or documentation. Learn more about epic theater in this article.

Epic - Greek, Poetry, Mythology: Especially in its originative stage, the Greek epic may have been strongly influenced by these Asian traditions. The Greek world in the late Bronze Age was related to the Middle East by so many close ties that it formed an integral part of the Levant.

Feb 25, 2025 · The Odyssey is an epic poem in 24 books traditionally attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer. The poem is the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who wanders for 10 years (although the action of the poem covers only the final six …

5 days ago · The Ramayana is the shorter of the two great epic poems of India, the other being the Mahabharata. The Ramayana was composed in Sanskrit, probably not before 300 BCE, by the poet Valmiki, and in its present form, it consists …

Mar 23, 2025 · Beowulf is a heroic poem, considered the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic. It deals with events of the early 6th century CE and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750.