Definition of an epic?

Question

I think the term is used very loosely and has become a common place adjective, so I am wondering what's your opinioin of what an epic should be?

Answer 1

english teacher said it was a long narrative with a hero

Answer 2

noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style: Homer's Iliad is an epic poem.
2. resembling or suggesting such poetry: an epic novel on the founding of the country.
3. heroic; majestic; impressively great: the epic events of the war.
4. of unusually great size or extent: a crime wave of epic proportions.
–noun 5. an epic poem.
6. epic poetry.
7. any composition resembling an epic.
8. something worthy to form the subject of an epic: The defense of the Alamo is an American epic.
9. (initial capital letter) Also called Old Ionic. the Greek dialect represented in the Iliad and the Odyssey, apparently Aeolic modified by Ionic.

Answer 3

An epic is a story based on a true event in history.

Examples of epic movies are...Ben Hur, Braveheart, The Patriot, Gone With the Wind, Glory.

Examples of epic books are...again, Gone With the Wind, The Alamo, etc.

Answer 4

ep·ic /ˈɛpɪk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ep-ik] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective Also, ep·i·cal. 1. noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style: Homer's Iliad is an epic poem.
2. resembling or suggesting such poetry: an epic novel on the founding of the country.
3. heroic; majestic; impressively great: the epic events of the war.
4. of unusually great size or extent: a crime wave of epic proportions.
–noun 5. an epic poem.
6. epic poetry.
7. any composition resembling an epic.
8. something worthy to form the subject of an epic: The defense of the Alamo is an American epic.
9. (initial capital letter) Also called Old Ionic. the Greek dialect represented in the Iliad and the Odyssey, apparently Aeolic modified by Ionic.


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[Origin: 1580–90; < L epicus < Gk epikós. See epos, -ic]

—Related forms
ep·i·cal·ly, adverb
ep·ic·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source ep·ic (ěp'ĭk) Pronunciation Key
n.
An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.
A literary or dramatic composition that resembles an extended narrative poem celebrating heroic feats.
A series of events considered appropriate to an epic: the epic of the Old West.

adj.
Of, constituting, having to do with, or suggestive of a literary epic: an epic poem.
Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size: "A vast musical panorama . . . it requires an epic musical understanding to do it justice" (Tim Page).
Heroic and impressive in quality: "Here in the courtroom . . . there was more of that epic atmosphere, the extra amperage of a special moment" (Scott Turow).


[From Latin epicus, from Greek epikos, from epos, word, song; see wekw- in Indo-European roots.]

ep'i·cal·ly adv.

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WordNet - Cite This Source epic

adjective
1. very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale); "an epic voyage"; "of heroic proportions"; "heroic sculpture"
2. constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic; "epic tradition"

noun
1. a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds [syn: epic poem]

WordNet® 2.1, © 2005 Princeton University
American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source
epic


A long narrative poem written in elevated style, in which heroes of great historical or legendary importance perform valorous deeds. The setting is vast in scope, covering great nations, the world, or the universe, and the action is important to the history of a nation or people. The Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid are some great epics from world literature, and two great epics in English are Beowulf and Paradise Lost.

Note: Figuratively, any task of great magnitude may be called “epic,” as in an “epic feat” or an “epic undertaking.”

[Chapter:] Conventions of Written English


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American Heritage Abbreviations Dictionary 3rd Edition - Cite This Source EPIC
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Answer 5

Different people define it in different ways, but it is generally viewed as one of the main genres: try Aristotle ("Poetics") for one of the earliest definitions, or Genette ("Introduction a l'Architexte") for a twentieth-century definition.

It has, however, come to be used as an exceptionally long artistic work, usually based on historical event(s): eg epic film, epic poem.

Answer 6

Beowulf is the longest and greatest surviving Anglo-Saxon poem. The setting of the epic is the sixth century in what is now known as Denmark and southwestern Sweden.

I have found 9 Beowulf summaries for you to look at, via the links below.

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=11831&lastnode_id=0

http://www.freebooknotes.com/book.php3?id=44

http://education.yahoo.com/homework_help/cliffsnotes/beowulf/5.html

http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/

http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Beowulf.html#Top

Take inspiration from this essay and beware of plagiarism.

http://www.freeessays.cc/db/1/auj107.shtml

Online Versions of the Epic

http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/assignments/beowulf/beowulf.html

http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projs4a/be1.htm

Good luck.

Kevin, Liverpool, England.

Answer 7

An epic is obviously a major journey - but one that also tries the protagonist's character; makes them stronger from making the journey.

Answer 8

Something with lots of dragons, and maybe bards. Something about something, very large. Many things, very fantasy...wait, what kind of epic you talkin about?

Answer 9

a long narrative tpem that celebrates episodesof the people's heroic tradition.

Answer 10

Immensly long and legendary journey