A heroic poem revolves around legendary past events and heroic achievements. It starts with the hero's presentation and continues with the description of certain battles he fought in, his great deeds, his long speeches and his struggle with or help from supernatural forces. A heroic poem finishes with the appraisal of the hero as a man representing the ideals of an entire nation and a very important period of the nation's history. An elegiac poem, on the other hand, is a sad and sympathetic poem, usually mourning a person's death. It begins with the expression of grief and continues with the appraisal of the deceased for everything he had accomplished while still alive. It finishes with the consolation that he has gone to a better place where he will be looked after by the gods.
A heroic poem is a long piece of poetry, always written in narrative form. The poetry is characterized by a powerful, majestic style and the use of strong, striking words. A heroic poem's stanza consists of two lines in Iambic pentameter, which are usually rhymed. This rhythm elevates the mood and gives the poem a more formal and dramatic style to emphasize the hero's great achievements. An elegiac poem is composed of couplets of dactylic pentameter and hexameter, a lyrical rhythm that is suitable for themes of love, lamentation and consolation. The poem's use of language demonstrates affection and evokes emotion within the reader or listener.
Heroic poetry can be categorized as a subgenre of narrative poetry, whereas elegiac poetry is a subcategory of lyrical poetry. This is why they both differed originally in their manner of delivery. In ancient Greece the heroic poem was recited with grandeur, almost performed dramatically, while the elegiac poem was sung. The heroic poem was transferred from one generation to the next orally, while the elegiac poem was securely passed on in written form.
The most important heroic poet was the ancient Greek Homer, who wrote the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey," two long heroic poems that have defined the main features of the genre. The "Divine Comedy," written by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, is another famous example of a heroic poem. The most significant elegiac poet was Callimachus from Alexandria, who wrote many well-known elegies, such as "The Death of Heraclitus" and "Epitaph for Callimachus." Another important elegiac poet was Catullus from Rome, who is known for his work "Carmina," a collection of poems including elegies like "Ave Atque Vale: An Offering to the Dead," an elegiac poem praising and lamenting the poet's dead brother.