heroic poem
Definition
Noun: A long narrative poem that recounts the deeds and adventures of a heroic figure, often of national or cultural significance. This literary form typically features elevated language, grand themes, and a formal, structured style.
Usage
The term "heroic poem" is used to classify a specific genre of epic poetry. It describes a substantial poetic work centered on a hero. * Beowulf is a classic example of an Old English heroic poem. * Scholars study the structure and themes of the heroic poem to understand ancient cultures. * The poet spent decades composing his heroic poem about the founding of the kingdom.
Advanced Usage
- As a literary category: The term is often used in academic and critical discussions to distinguish epic narratives from shorter poetic forms like lyrics or sonnets.
- The course focused on the evolution of the heroic poem from Homer to Milton.
Variants and Related Words
- Epic (noun): A more common synonym for "heroic poem." While often used interchangeably, "epic" can sometimes refer more broadly to any grand-scale narrative work, including in film or prose.
- Homer's "Iliad" is an ancient Greek epic.
- Epic poetry (noun phrase): The genre to which the heroic poem belongs.
- She is an expert in the traditions of epic poetry.
Synonyms
- Epic
- Epos (a less common, technical term)
Related Phrases/Concepts
- National epic: A heroic poem that is considered fundamental to the identity of a nation or people.
- "The Song of Roland" is regarded as a French national epic.
- Heroic couplet: A rhyming pair of lines in iambic pentameter, a form often used in narrative and epic poetry from the 17th and 18th centuries, but distinct from the "heroic poem" itself.
- Alexander Pope used the heroic couplet masterfully in his translations.
Noun
-
a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds
