This document defines and discusses the characteristics of epic literature. It provides examples of famous epics from around the world, including the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Mahabharata, the Odyssey, Beowulf, and Dante's Divine Comedy. The document notes that epics typically begin in medias res, cover vast settings, include invocations to muses and statements of themes, and feature heroes that embody societal values. Examples of excerpts from Lord Byron's Don Juan and Dante's Divine Comedy are also provided. The document concludes with brief discussions of Greek epic literature and different types of epics.

1. Epic
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2. * EPIC *
 Definition of Epic. The word epic is derived
from the Ancient Greek adjective, “epikos”,
which means a poetic story. In literature,
an epic is a long narrative poem, which is
usually related to heroic deeds of a person of
an unusual courage and unparalleled bravery.

4. - :Famous examples of epic :-
 Poetry include the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, the ancient
Indian Mahabharata and Rāmāyaṇa, the Tamil Silappatikaram, the
Persian Shahnameh, the Ancient Greek Odyssey and Iliad, Virgil's
Aeneid, the Old English Beowulf, Dante's Divine Comedy, the
Finnish Kalevala, the German Nibelungenlied.

5. Characteristics of an epic
 Begins in medias res.
 The setting is vast, covering many nations, the world or the
universe.
 Begins with an invocation to a muse (epic invocation).
 Begins with a statement of the theme.
 Includes the use of epithets.
 Contains long lists, called an epic catalogue.
 Features long and formal speeches.
 Shows divine intervention in human affairs.
 Features heroes that embody the values of the civilization.
 Often features the tragic hero's descent into
the underworld or hell.s

6. Other Famous Examples of Epics in Literature
"In the middle of the journey of our life, I came to myself, in a dark wood,
where the direct way was lost. It is a hard thing to speak of, how wild, harsh
and impenetrable that wood was, so that thinking of it recreates the fear. It
is scarcely less bitter than death: but, in order to tell of the good that I found
there, I must tell of the other things I saw there" –
"The Divine Comedy" by Dante
"I want a hero: an uncommon want,When every year and month sends forth a
new one,Till, after cloying the gazettes with cant,The age discovers he is not
the true one;Of such as these I should not care to vaunt,I'll therefore take our
ancient friend Don Juan-We all have seen him, in the pantomime,Sent to the
devil somewhat ere his time."-
"Don Juan" by Lord Byron

7. Greek Epic Literature
 The word "epic" comes from the Greek for "word, poem, or story." The
stories deal with significant events of a nation or culture and show the
values of a society. Since epic poems are so long, there is not room to
include one in its entirety; so the examples of epic poems will be various
excerpts

8. The author of a lyric epic poem.

9. DIFFERENT EPICS

10. EPIC LITERATURE HINDI

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