Why is The Odyssey considered an epic?Could you also give some examples so I know what you are talking about? Also, what is an epic?

The only requirement for a work of literature to qualify
as an epic is that It should consist of a long narrative poem.Odyssey which consists of
24 section or books of poetry, meets this requirement very well and therefore is fully
qualified to be termed an epic.

Beside this Odyssey also
possesses may other characteristics which are not essential for an epic but are
generally found in most of famous epics of the world. For example, it is a story of
adventure and heroics, which has fired the imagination of people and has influence their
culture and society.