Definition of "epic poetry" [epic poetry]

• Poetry celebrating the deeds of some hero (noun)

WordNet. Princeton University. 2010.

• "This spontaneous growth of epic poetry goes on until the tenth century; but after the tenth century, the inventive power of the poets -- the trouvères, as they are called -- is exhausted; they no longer compose new songs, but co-ordinate, above all amplify, and finally reduce to writing the songs left to them by their predecessors."
• "Joseph dies -- the age being repeated in the more solemn style of narrative, as is common in epic poetry also -- they embalm him and put him into an 'aron, a word whose primary significance is "box," used also of the ark of the covenant."