Studies in Literature

One of the points Ezra Pound makes in his anecdote about Agassiz and the Fish is that you shouldn't blindly accept what experts tell you about a subject, simply taking at face value "whatever term is used to conceal the common sunfish from vulgar knowledge . . . ." You should, instead, look at the fish and observe it for yourself.

On the basis purely of Books I - III of The Odyssey, formulate for yourself a description of the "epic" as a literary genre. Setting aside all you've learned in the past and studying the first three books as if you've never seen anything like them before, how would you describe this literary creature to someone who had never read such a thing?

This is an "open fish" test. You may use your book, but don't use anything else.