Check out these classic epic poems. You might ask what an epic poem is. According to the Poetry Foundation, an epic is "a long narrative poem in which a heroic protagonist engages in an action of great mythic or historical significance. (Poetry Foundation)" Check out the full definition and more examples on the Poetry Foundation website.
Beowulf and Other Old English Poems. Beowulf is an ancient epic poem believed to be from the 10th Century. The epic is told in two parts. Part one is Beowulf as the hero of Geats and his tales of defeating monsters that plague the kingdom. Part two is later in his life when he is now king of the Geats and tells the story of his battle with a dragon.
The Odyssey is an ancient poem written around the 7th or 8th century. It shows the adventures of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his journey home from the Trojan War. This journey takes 10 years because he angers the gods, falls under a sorceress's enchantments, fights monsters, and survives a shipwreck. The reader also learns what is happening back in Ithaca with Odysseus' wife and son, dealing with the fallout of his extended journey home.
The Iliad is another ancient poem written by Homer. This poem is set during the Trojan War and focuses on the Greek war hero Achilles. This poem shows the politics of war and how much the Greek gods were believed to be involved in war.
The Aeneid of Virgil is this epic poem, readers follow Aeneas's and the remaining Trojan's journey after the fall of Troy to the Latium where their descendants will one day build Rome. The Greek gods are again present in this tale helping or hiring them depending on their allegiances.
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