The feature of epic poetry most clearly shown by an excerpt depends on its content, but common distinctive features include:

• The presence of a heroic figure : A larger-than-life hero who displays exceptional courage, strength, or virtue and undertakes a significant quest or battle

• Grand, expansive setting : The narrative spans vast geographical areas, multiple nations, or even cosmic realms, emphasizing the epic’s large scale

• Elevated, formal language : The poem uses lofty diction, archaic terms, and grandiose phrasing to match the gravity of the subject matter and create a majestic tone

• Supernatural intervention : Gods, angels, demons, or other supernatural forces actively influence the plot, highlighting the epic’s mythic dimension

• Epic similes and extended metaphors : Elaborate comparisons that enhance vividness and emotional impact, often linking heroic deeds to natural phenomena

• Invocation of the Muse : A formal plea to a divine source at the beginning of the poem for inspiration to tell the story

• Catalogs and genealogies : Lists of warriors, heroes, or objects that provide historical and cultural context and underscore the poem’s scope

• In medias res narrative : Opening the story in the middle of action, often at the hero’s lowest point, with flashbacks filling in earlier events

• Moral and cultural ideals : Themes of courage, honor, loyalty, sacrifice, and patriotism are central and exemplified through the hero’s actions

If the excerpt highlights a hero’s extraordinary qualities or a heroic quest, it most clearly shows the heroic figure feature. If it describes vast settings or multiple realms, it shows the grand scope. If the language is formal and lofty, it demonstrates elevated language. If gods or supernatural beings intervene, it shows supernatural forces. If it uses extended similes or formal speeches, those are also hallmark features. Without the specific excerpt text, the clearest approach is to identify which of these hallmark features the excerpt most strongly exhibits, as these define epic poetry’s distinctive style and thematic concerns