Here are some key characteristics of an epic:
* Lengthy: Epics are typically long poems, often thousands of lines.
* Elevated style: They use formal language, elaborate imagery, and often employ epic similes.
* Focus on heroes: The story centers around a hero of great strength, courage, and often divine lineage.
* Supernatural elements: Gods, monsters, and other fantastical creatures often play a role in the narrative.
* Themes of fate, destiny, and glory: Epics often explore the tension between human will and fate, and the pursuit of glory and honor.
Some famous examples of epics include:
* The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer
* The Aeneid by Virgil
* Beowulf
* The Song of Roland
* The Epic of Gilgamesh
These poems have been a major influence on literature and storytelling for centuries.