The word epic or epic has two meanings. On the one hand, it is a literary genre that is part of universal literature and, in parallel, is related to heroic events and with an extraordinary dimension.
The epic in literature
Generally speaking, when non-daily and intimate events are narrated in literature but rather legendary events are recounted, we are dealing with an epic type of creation. Legendary events are usually true and historical, although sometimes they are imaginary and totally fictitious stories.
As for 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 verses of great length. 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, the epic has the purpose of recording the great feats of humanity through literature.
A memorable battle starring 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 (fictitious 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.
Highly relevant events
Apart from literature, the word epic or epic is used in everyday language. It is usually 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 journalistic language, it must be said that it is not very appropriate to abuse this qualifier, since a race or a football game can be epic for some reason, but it does not make sense that every two times three are use this term, as epic has an exceptional and extraordinary character.
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