Main Difference – Epic vs Epoch
Epic and epoch are two words that are often misused because of their similar pronunciation and spellings. However, epic and epoch are not interchangeable; they have completely unrelated meanings. An epoch is a particular period in history whereas epic is a long narrative poem. This is the main difference between epic and epoch.
Epic – Meaning and Usage
Epic is both a noun and an adjective. As a noun, epic is a long narrative poem, narrating the heroic deeds and adventures of gallant, legendary heroes. The term epic is also applied to films, plays, books with the heroic qualities of an epic. As an adjective, epic can refer to the relation to an epic. It can also mean heroic or grand scale. Read the following examples to grasp the meaning and usage of this word better.
The epic poem Beowulf is one of the oldest surviving works of English literature.
The book narrates his epic journey around the world.
He wrote the greatest epic in English literature.
There are many translations of this epic into modern English.
He always did things in epic proportions.
In informal speech, epic also means remarkable or impressive.
The party last night was epic.
Beowulf is an old English epic poem.
Epoch – Meaning and Usage
Epoch is a period of time; it refers to a particular period of time in history or person’s life. This period of time is characterized by certain features and notable events. Apart from the general use, this term is particularly used in fields such as astronomy and geology. In geology, an epoch is a unit of geological time that is a subdivision of a period and is itself divided into ages. In astronomy, an epoch is an arbitrarily fixed date relative to which planetary or stellar measurements are expressed.
The Elizabethan epoch is considered to be the golden age of English literature.
The Pleistocene epoch occurred between 1.8 million and 10,500 years ago.
The invention of the printing press was the biggest achievement of that epoch.
It was an epoch of darkness and ignorance.
The professor described it as the greatest epoch in history.
Victorian epoch
Difference Between Epic and Epoch
Grammatical Category
Epic is a noun and an adjective.
Epoch is a noun.
Noun
Epic is a long narrative poem, narrating the heroic deeds of legendary figures.
Epoch is a particular period of time in history or a person’s life.
Adjective
Epic means heroic or grand scale.
Epoch is not used as an adjective.
Fields
Epic is particularly used in literature.
Epoch is used in geology and astronomy.
Image Courtesy:
“Beowulf fighting the dragon” by J. R. Skelton – Illustration in the children’s book Stories of Beowulf (H. E. Marshall). Published in New York in 1908 by E. P. Dutton & Company. (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
“The Poultry Cross, Salisbury” by Louise Rayner – Bonhams, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
