Most epic poems begin with an invocation, which is a prayer to some higher power. The poet generally asks the gods, often a Muse, to guide his pen during the writing of the poem. In Greek epic poetry, the Muse addressed was usually Calliope, who was the Muse specifically of epic poetry. At other times, the poet would ask another deity for inspiration, but the purpose of the invocation was to introduce the action that will unfold in the poem.
We’ll help your grades soar
Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now.
- 30,000+ book summaries
- 20% study tools discount
- Ad-free content
- PDF downloads
- 300,000+ answers
- 5-star customer support
Already a member? Log in here.
Are you a teacher? Sign up now