What is Epic? What are the elements of epic? How many Types of Epic?

Answer: The word epic is derived from the Ancient Greek adjective “spikes”, which means a poetic story. An epic is a long narrative poem that tells in grand style the history and aspirations of a national hero. The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, and Beowulf are considered the most important epics in western literature.

The major elements of an epic are:

1. invocation to the Muses and proposition of the subject at the Beginning;

2. Lofty language and high style;

3. A central hero of superman quality;

4. A subject of national or collective interest;

5. A long perilous journey, often on water;

6. Long speeches of the heroic leaders;

7. Mighty battles;

8. Feasts and revels;

9. Homeric (long-run) similes;

10. Involvement of supernatural elements (also known as machinery);

11. An underworld journey;

12. Assembly of the supernatural powers;

13. Glorification of justice and peace;

There are two types of epic:

(1) Primary or Oral epic; and

(2) Secondary or Literary epic;

A primary epic is a type of epic with which the epic tradition began. The secondary or literary epic is the one that imitated the tradition of the primary epic. In a primary epic, the episodes taken in oral tradition are linked with one another to make a longer or for this reason, looseness in the construction is apparent. In a secondary epic, such looseness is not found. A primary epic displays savage and rude heroism but a secondary epic shows a more refined taste. In primary epic supernatural elements are very significant but in a literary or secondary epic, they are not so significant.

For example, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are primary epics. Virgil’s Aeneid, Dante’s Divine Comedy, and Milton’s Paradise Lost are secondary epics.