Key Concepts in Epic Poetry and Literary Criticism

Epic poetry

A long, narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and legendary events, often of national significance.

Mock epic

A satire that mimics the grandeur of epic poetry to humorously elevate trivial subjects.

Heroic couplet

A pair of rhyming lines in iambic pentameter, traditionally used in epic and narrative poetry.

Meter

The rhythmic structure of a verse, composed of stressed and unstressed syllables in a pattern.

Iamb

A metrical foot consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (da-DUM).

Pentameter

A line of poetry consisting of five metrical feet, commonly iambs in English poetry.

Historicism

An approach to understanding literature by considering the historical context in which it was written.

Formalism

A critical approach that focuses on the structure, style, and form of a text, rather than its content or context.

Postcolonialism

A theoretical framework that examines the impact of colonialism on cultures and societies, often critiquing power dynamics and identity.