Epic Story
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An Epic Story is a narrative that features grand and sweeping events, often involving heroic characters and significant challenges or conflicts that have a wide-ranging impact on a culture or society.
- Context:
- It can (typically) involve characters that are larger-than-life, often embodying the values and ideals of a culture.
- It can (typically) include elements of myth, legend, or history, blending these aspects to enhance the narrative's significance and depth.
- It can (typically) utilize a formal and elevated style of language to match the grandeur of the events described.
- It can (often) cover a large span of time, sometimes encompassing generations or a significant historical period.
- It can (often) have themes of great moral or existential significance, focusing on universal concerns such as justice, honor, and destiny.
- It can (often) serve as a foundation for national identity, with its stories being taught as part of cultural heritage.
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- Example(s):
- In Literature:
- an Epic Poem like The Epic of Gilgamesh, which narrates the adventures of Gilgamesh, a king who confronts gods and seeks immortality.
- The narrative of The Mahabharata, which details the epic battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, along with its moral and spiritual lessons.
- The tale of The Aeneid, where Virgil chronicles the adventures of Aeneas, a Trojan who plays a crucial role in the founding myths of Rome.
- Paradise Lost, by John Milton, which depicts the biblical story of the Fall of Man.
- In Cinema:
- an Epic Film like Ben-Hur (1959 film), known for its grand narrative and historical setting that reflects epic storytelling.
- The Lord of the Rings (film series), a series of films based on the epic fantasy novels by J.R.R. Tolkien.
- Titanic (1997 film), which combines a historical tragedy with a dramatic personal story set against the backdrop of a monumental event.
- In Oral Tradition:
- The story of The Odyssey, which recounts the perilous journey home of the hero Odysseus after the Trojan War.
- Beowulf, an Old English epic poem recounting the heroic feats of its eponymous protagonist.
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- In Literature:
- Counter-Example(s):
- Short Storys, which typically focus on a brief moment in time and fewer characters.
- Personal Narratives, where the scope is usually confined to the experiences of an individual without broader cultural implications.
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- See: Epic Poem, Epic Film, Heroic Narrative, Mythology, Cultural Heritage.