Micro-epic is a condensed narrative poem that distills the grand themes, heroic scope, and formal conventions of traditional epic into a brief, intense lyric—often under 50 lines—using elevated diction, mythic allusion, and cosmic stakes; examples include Walcott’s “The Castaway” or Glück’s “Gretel in Darkness,” where miniature scale intensifies emotional focus while retaining epic’s moral and existential weight.

Very short epic, condensed heroic narrative. Modern paradoxical form. Related to epyllion. Study tip: Look for epic themes/scope compressed into brief space; oxymoronic tension.