1. (Feminine subst.).The epic, at the request of literature, refers to the classification of long poems that narrate heroic deeds that involve adversities throughout the action of the individual who centralizes the story, that is, the hero.
2. (Adj.). Qualifying term for everything that is linked or resembles epic poetry or the figure constituted by the hero.
3. (Adj.). Derivation of meaning. Something great or very remarkable. Example: ‘It was an epic event’.
Etymology: by latin epicuswith respect to the form of the Greek ἐπικός (epikos), formed from ἔπος (epos), as ‘word’, ‘narration’, ‘song’, associated with the verb εἰπεῖν (eipein), from ‘narrate’, ‘say’, ‘express’, ‘sing’, the suffix -ικός (-ikos), according to the adjective.
Grammatical category: Adjective / Noun fem.
in syllables: é-pi-co/a.
epic
The word epic or epic has two meanings. On the one hand, it is a literary genre that is part of universal literature and, at the same time, it is related to heroic events and with an extraordinary dimension.
epic in literature
In general terms, when in literature non-daily and intimate events are narrated but legendary events are told, we are dealing with an epic type of creation. Legendary facts are usually true and historical, although sometimes they are imaginary and totally fictitious stories.
Regarding its characteristics, it must be said that the epic is related to the narrative genre, but there may be dialogues and descriptions. The epic can be written in both prose and verse, usually long verses. Sometimes the epic is related to other genres, such as theater or romance.
One of the singularities of the epic genre is the fusion of real and imaginary events, in such a way that the writer makes a synthesis between what has really happened and his own vision of events. In fact, in some epic poems there are fantastic elements interspersed with moments of great historical value.
In general terms, the epic has the purpose of recording through literature the great feats of humanity.
A memorable battle led by a people, or brave attitudes of some heroes. In the case of the heroes of epic narratives, they become popular myths and their stories end up becoming part of the oral and literary tradition of a community.
In the epic genre there is an exaltation of events (fictional or real), a literary approach that is opposed to the lyrical genre, in which the important thing is the world of intimate and subjective feelings.
Events of great relevance
Apart from literature, the word epic or epic is used in everyday language. It is normally part of journalistic language and is used to highlight the dimension of an event. In the world of sports, references to an epic match or an epic comeback are quite common.
In this way, when a sporting event is accompanied by some extraordinary effort or some singular feat, journalists resort to the adjective epic. Although this use of the term is part of the journalistic language, it must be said that it is not very appropriate to abuse this qualifier, since a race or a soccer game can be epic for some reason, but it does not make sense that every two for three use this term, because epic has an exceptional and extraordinary character.
Photos: iStock – alicenerr / wabeno
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