Preparing for The Odyssey....What is an epic?

Epic poetry has its roots in oral, rather than literate tradition. These stories were originally passed on by bards, or professional poets who made their living by singing folk tales and epic poems to audiences. While the details of the poem often shifted from one telling to the next, the most important elements of the story always remained the same.

The epic elevates man to the level of gods and goddeses, monsters and miracles. The reader views life from above, spread out before him. For nearly 3000 yrs, Homer has held the place of the master minstrel. Little is known about the author, claimed to be a blind Ionian singer, claimed by 7 cities of Asia Minor. The epics have been treasured for yrs. Alexander is said to have slept with them under his pillow in a box of gold. (Miller, Erin)

Epic derived from the Greek word "epos," means word, saying or speech. An epic is a long, narrative poem written in a dignified style on a majestic theme, relating the adventures of a legendary hero. Elegant and distinguished language is applied to everyone from the king to the common servant. The plot is straightforward and unifies around a central character. By use of epithet and repitition, to prompt the memory of the poet who is reciting it and to keep the plot fresh in the mind of the audience/reader.

What is an epithet? An epithet is a descriptive word or phrase often used as a metaphor or appositive to describe a character, such as "bright eyed Athena," "sensible Telemachus," and "rosy fingered dawn."

Epics have nine main characteristics:
Opens in Media Res (in the middle of the story)
The setting is vast, covering many nations, the world, or the universe.
Begins with an invocation to a muse
Starts with a statement of the theme (an epic will state the problem and often its solution in the beginning.
The use of epithets.
Includes long lists.
Features long and formal speeches.
Shows divine intervention on human affairs.
"STAR" heroes that embody the values of the civilization.

The hero generally participates in a cyclical journey or quest, faces adversaries that try to defeat him in his journey, and returns home significantly transformed by his journey. The epic hero illustrates traits, performs deeds, and exemplifies certain morals that are valued by the society from which the epic originates. (Wikipedia)