In
poetry, an
epic is a lengthy
narrative poem typically about the extraordinary deeds of extraordinary characters who, in dealings with
gods or other
superhuman forces, gave shape to the mortal universe for their descendants. With regard to
oral tradition, epic poems consist of formal speech and are usually learnt word for word, contrasted with
narratives that consist of
everyday speech, categorised into 'factual' or fiction, the former of which is less susceptible to variation.
