Epic

What is an Epic? Transcript (English and Spanish Subtitles Available in Video. Click By Today, the word “epic” is an adjective that means something like “big, grandiose, extreme,” or “awesome.” It’s usually used for positive qualities, but it can also be employed to indicate intensity – like in the “epic fail” memes that were so popular in the early 2000s. But if we go back to the roots of the word “epic”, we find that its origins are very different from its current meaning. The word “epic” comes from the Ancient Greek word epos, which simply means “word, narrative, or song”. So, how did the word “epic” evolve from something that basically just meant “words” to a blanket adjective for “intensity” or “extremeness”? The answer lies in the history of literature! If we look at its earliest use, epos is just what it says: words, narrative, and songs. The earliest “epics” were poems that told a story and that were performed out loud. Of course, the earliest epics, like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey survive today because they were written down, but they circulated as orally performed poems – maybe for hundreds of years – before being copied. In fact, the author known as “Homer” probably never existed – he’s a catch-all name we give to the many generations of performers who told, retold, and shaped the stories of the Iliad and the Odyssey over time. These early Homeric “epics” had some qualities in common beyond the fact that they were orally-performed stories. First, they were about ...

The only kids' eBook subscription service that offers thousands of high-quality books from well known publishers like HarperCollins, National Geographic and others. JavaScript Required Whoops! We're sorry but Epic doesn't work properly without JavaScript enabled. Check your web browser's settings to make sure it's enabled.

NOTE: the following information has changed since publication: Epic School is now available from 7 am to 4 pm. We’ve got your back for Back to School. A lot’s changed since last Fall, but we’ve got you! No matter what teaching looks like for you, Epic will support your reading and learning goals. Here is what you can expect for Back to School. Epic School: new name, same great experience. Epic School has a new name, but it’s the same experience you already know and love, and still 100% free for educators. Look for the new name starting in time for Back to School! New: remote login with just your class code. By popular demand, to support remote learning this school year, we’ve made it easy for students to log in from anywhere during school hours using just your class code. Even summer school students can use it, starting now, from 6 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday. Available through June 2021! Keep ‘em learning after school. Reading with Epic doesn’t have to end when school is out. You can keep fueling your students’ love of reading after hours with Epic Free. When parents sign up for an Epic Free account using their email addresses, their kids can access a limited selection of Epic books, plus two free hours of reading per week. Search by what’s available on Epic Free. You asked and here it is! You can now see what books are available on Epic Free with a new search filter feature so that you can assign reading that students can access after school hours. We stand by your ...