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Epic Conventions According to Webster’s Dictionary, an epic is “a narrative poem of some length telling of heroic deeds or events.” While this is an accurate definition, there are also several other characteristics that tie them together as a literary format. Virtually all epics demonstrate an invocation of the gods, have a statement of the theme and begin in “medias res.” This can be demonstrated in Homer’s Iliad, Milton’s Paradise Lost, and …

…journey into the Underworld begins. What better way to open in “medias res” than right in the middle of one’s life? The epic follows a very distinct format that can be defined by several conventions: an invocation of the gods, a statement of the theme and begin in “medias res.” All three of these traits can be found in Homer’s Iliad, Milton’s Paradise Lost, and Dante’s Inferno from The Divine Comedy.