epische

Epische is a term used in German and Dutch to describe something relating to or resembling an epic. As an adjective, epische conveys grandeur, a long narrative scope, heroism, or legendary material. It can apply to literature, film, music, and other arts that aim to evoke the scale and formal characteristics of traditional epics, including heroic journeys, fate, and collective deeds.

Origin and classification: The root is the Greek epos meaning story or poem, through Latin epicus and French épique, into modern German and Dutch spellings episch and epische. In German, epische denotes the attributive form used before feminine or mixed-noun phrases such as epische Dichtung or epische Heldenreise. The corresponding noun is das Epos, designating epic poetry or epic narratives. In Dutch, epische functions similarly as the attributive form of episch and is used in phrases like epische literatuur to denote epic or saga-like literature. The term thus ties language forms to a common cultural concept.

Historical usage: In classical and medieval literature, epischer style describes long narratives such as Homeric epics. In the German tradition, the term gained scholarly traction in the 18th and 19th centuries with Romanticism and historicism to categorize works above the ballad or novella. In modern criticism, episch is often contrasted with lyrisch (lyrical) or dramatisch (dramatic) to describe overall tone and scale.

Modern usage and examples: In film, video games, and music, epische elements refer to grand, sweeping, and monumental qualities—vast battles, expansive landscapes, and elevated musical scores. The term is sometimes used subjectively in journalism and marketing to evoke significance or magnitude rather than a strict genre label.