Epic Poetry

Epic Poetry

Characteristics & Qualities

Poll

Have you read Epic Poetry before? (e.g. in English or Social Studies)

• yes

• no

• i have no idea

Open Ended

Have you talked about what separates Epics from other genres?

Multiple Choice

An epic is a long poem about a _______________ subject

• serious

• silly

• very specific

• adventurous

Do we know what "diction" is?

Think about it's Latin root! (dico, dicere, dixi, dictus!)

Give me a thumbs up if you know or have a guess!

Multiple Choice

Epic has diction that is ___________________ in style.

• elevated

• simple

• conversational

• unique

Multiple Choice

Epics employ a formal tone and contain many figures of speech.

• true

• false

Fill in the Blank

The narrative focuses on the exploits of the _____________, who represents the cultural values of a race, culture, nation, or religious group.

Multiple Choice

The hero's success and failure will determine the ______________ of his nation or culture

• name

• language

• fate

• expansion

Multiple Select

The action takes place in a setting that is....(choose all that apply)

• vast

• covering a wide geographical area

• very specific

• fictional

• in the remote past

Multiple Choice

The action contains ____________ feats of strength and military prowess.

• superhuman

• minimal

• never-ending

Multiple Choice

___________________ often take part in the action to affect the outcome.

• gods or other supernatural beings

• children

• fairies

• soldiers or other military types

Multiple Choice

The __________________ is when the poet asks for suitable creativity, emotion, or words to finish the poem.

• invocation of the muse

• call to arms of the hero

• prayer to the gods

Multiple Choice

The poem often starts ________________ which means in the middle of the action.

• in media res

• deus ex machina

• ipso facto

• ad hoc

Multiple Choice

The poem contains long catalogs of characters, usually focusing on

• kings & warriors

• commoners and peasants

• families

• sailors and soldiers

Fill in the Blank

It employs these long comparisons over many lines, which help to fill out the meter.