EPIC CONVENTIONS and EPIC CHARACTERISTICS Chart (Practice)—Book 9

EXAMPLE – IDENTIFY (LABEL) & EXPLAIN

Epithet

(renames or characterizes a noun – a

EPIC CONVENTIONS person, place, or thing - in a few words
or less)

Epic Simile
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(compares two unlike things over 3 or
more lines of the poem)

“trigger words” = as, like, so, just so,

the way, etc.

Allusion

(references something familiar to the

Greek audience, usually a god/goddess
or some well-known person or event)

Epic Hero
• Possesses superhuman
EPIC strength, craftiness, and
confidence
CHARACTERISTICS • Is helped and harmed by
(Chart on pg 1194) interfering gods
• Embodies ideals and values that
a culture considers admirable
• Emerges victorious from
perilous situations
 EPIC CONVENTIONS and EPIC CHARACTERISTICS Chart (Practice)—Book 9

Epic Plot
• Strange creatures
EPIC • Divine intervention
• Large-scale events
CHARACTERISTICS • Treacherous weather
(Chart on pg 1194)

Epic Setting
• Includes fantastic or exotic
lands
• Involves more than one nation

Archetype
• Epic hero
• Wicked temptress
• Loyal servant
• Suitor’s contest

IET
• Sea monster
• Villain
• Faithful wife
Epic Theme
• Courage
• Homecoming
• Loyalty
• Fate of a nation
• Life and death
• Beauty