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The genre of epic first started in the time period during conflict between Greek city-states or between Rome and its other opponents. In this era where war and conflict among nations was so common, the genre of epic grew popular with subject matter such as military heroism, loyalty, and masculinity. The Greek author Homer created the first two largest and most popular epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, written during Rome’s dark ages of 1200 to 776 BC. These two works are probably the earliest greek literature to survive, and show how malleable and popular the epic genre is in comparison to all other genres of ancient Greek literature. The content of epic poems has transformed as poetry has advanced, and subject matter has moved beyond heroism and masculinity to farming, hunting, philosophy, and science. Homer's works as well as other famous poets such as Euripides' Medea and Appolonius' Jason and the Argonauts helped to define the epic genre. These works prove how the genre has stayed popular for centuries and how there are many forms of modern epics seen in popular culture today.

Homer, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

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Epics were incredibly influential to ancient Greek and Roman culture, and continued to be influential throughout history. There are many stories that reflect the ancient epic and include the same elements that are necessary to categorize a piece of literature as an epic. One of these stories is the Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling, in which the protagonist Harry attempts to save the wizarding world from the evil wizard, Lord Voldemort. Throughout the series, Harry and his friends must face conflict after conflict, using magic and luck to beat their opponents. Their quest is very similar to the quests that we see in the epics of ancient Greece and Rome. The story occurs mainly at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but there are many other settings, especially later in the series. Harry is fighting to fulfill a prophecy that was made when he was a baby, making him the only person who can defeat Voldemort.

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Epics traditionally begin with the invocation of the muse, or the poet calling upon the muses (goddesses of the arts) to help tell the story which they are starting. This serves as a prologue and demonstrates that the poet is sharing the tale in connection with a higher power.

The omniscient narrator not only invokes the muse  but tells the whole story in an objective tone. The narrator knows all the characters' thoughts and feelings and what is happening at all times.

The hero is the protagonist of the story. In Greek epics, the hero is often a demigod of some sort. The hero reflects the qualities that the poet's society values. These may include strength, cleverness, ingenuity, perseverance, leadership, loyalty, and excellence.

The hero's backstory is usually near the beginning of the epic. The narrator will give some insight to the hero's origins and sometimes will explore elements of other major characters' backstories. The backstory usually provide and explanation to how the characters got to where they currently are at the start of the story.

Prophecy is another key aspect of epics. The hero somehow will fulfill a prophecy- some ending well for the hero, some ending poorly. Either way, the hero will either intentionally or unknowingly play some major role in a prophecy.

The epic will mostly center around a journey or quest on which the hero embarks. The quest will have many conflicts and/or battles along the way that require great strength or sometimes even divine intervention and mystical objects.

The journey in an epic will take the hero to many different settings. They will encounter different obstacles at each location and will have to overcome the adversity in order to move along.

Epics have moral themes and values woven throughout them. Whether it is the hero being an example of good character or a lesson they learn by lacking a trait, it is evident to the reader that there is a moral takeaway from the epic.

The writing style of epics is one of embellished language, overly stylized, formal, lyrical language. A mundane task may be dramatized to seem like a major plot point in epics.

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The most notable example of epics that we studied in class was Appolonius' Jason and the Argonauts.  Jason and the Argonauts follows the hero Jason, focusing on his trials, complications, and glimpses into his inner workings as he voyages His jouney features monsters, epic battles, and sacrifice, which are popular events existing in epic poems. Perhaps the most famous surviving epics are Homer's twin poems The Odyssey and The Iliad, which follow the events of the Trojan War and the  travels of Odysseus as he attempts to reach his home island Ithaca afterwards. All these poems contain the central elements of an Epic, particularly in their poetic structure and elevated language. Before their inscription, the epics were recited by poets and bards, who entertained audiences with their fantastical stories of monsters, exaggerated human behaviors, and perilous journeys.

"Jason and the Medea"–

Charles André van Loo

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Some of the most popular epics that exist today were written by names as mythical as the stories themselves. Some of the most distinguished: the blind, Greek poet Homer, known for his Odyssey and Iliad; the Augustinian Roman lyricist Virgil, largely renowned for his Eclogues, Georgics, and The Aeneid; and the anonymous Germanic Anglo-Saxon poet known as the 'Beowulf poet', remembered, obviously, for the writing of Beowulf.

'Penelope and the Suitors'– John Williams Waterhouse

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Biography.com Editors. "Homer Biography." A&E Television Networks, 31 Mar. 2021, www.biography.com /writer/homer.