– Roopa Banerjee

“Swift-footed Achilles charged into battle.”

This sentence artfully uses the literary device epithet — a descriptive phrase attached to a person, place, or thing to highlight a defining quality.

Epithets are not just adjectives; they convey an essential trait, allowing writers to add colour, depth, and symbolic resonance to characters. From their first use in ancient epic poems, epithets have been used to define characters, enrich language, and shape audience memory.

The word epithet comes from the Greek epitheton, meaning “something added”. It combines epi, which means “upon,” and tithenai, i.e, “to place.” Greek poets such as Homer used epithets in oral recitations to enable listeners to remember characters and scenes. Expressions such as “rosy-fingered Dawn” and “wine-dark sea” are repeated throughout The Iliad and The Odyssey, giving rhythm and beauty to the verses while anchoring the story in the listener’s memory.

In The Iliad, heroes are inseparable from their descriptive titles. Achilles was “swift-footed,” Odysseus was “wise,” and Hector was the “breaker of horses”. These short descriptors reveal more than speed or strength; they symbolize identity and destiny. For instance, “swift-footed Achilles” indicates more than just a fast runner; a fierce and unstoppable warrior whose speed defines his fate.

Shakespeare also used epithets generously to define his characters. In Othello, the eponymous protagonist is often described as “the valiant Moor”. “Valiant” speaks to his bravery, while “Moor” underlines his outsider status in Venetian society, a contrast that fuels the tragedy.

Today, modern writers similarly make use of epithets. For example, in the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling, Lord Voldemort is referred to as “He Who Must Not Be Named.” This conveys fear and respect, wherein his power is so extraordinary that a real name is too dangerous to utter.

Popular culture also embraces epithets, especially when developing strong and memorable identities. In sports, athletes often become legends through their epithets, such as “The Wall” for cricketer Rahul Dravid or “The Greatest” for boxer Muhammad Ali. These titles celebrate achievement and create larger-than-life identities that remain in public memory.

Another perfect example from the movies is in The Lord of the Rings, where Aragorn is commonly referred to as “Strider.” It epitomizes his lone and wandering nature before he lays his claim to a royal future. Later in life, after his triumph, he becomes “King Elessar,” enabling readers and viewers to trace his journey and growth.

The magic of an epithet is in its economy. A few words can capture an entire personality. Whether expressing admiration, as in “Alexander the Great,” or fear, as in “Ivan the Terrible,” an epithet distils the essence of a person into something instantly recognizable. That is why epithets often outlive the people they describe. We may forget the details of Alexander’s conquests, but never that he was great.

However, epithets have a dark side: since they generalize, there’s a danger of stereotyping. A character who is repeatedly identified with only one trait — “the villain,” “the beauty,” or “the fool” — becomes reduced to that one quality.

Epithets remind us that descriptors hold power. From Homer’s “rosy-fingered Dawn” to Harry Potter’s “He Who Must Not Be Named,” these labels reveal how language deeply defines identity. That is what makes the epithet one of literature’s most enduring and transformative literary devices.

Exercise

Guess from which book or movie these famous epithets have been excerpted:

1. Breaker of Chains
2. The Dark Knight
3. The Man of Steel
4. The Chosen One
5. The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up

Answers

1. Game of Thrones. One of Daenerys Targaryen’s many titles, symbolising her mission to free the oppressed.
2. Batman films and comics
3. Superman comics and films
4. Star Wars series. Refers to Anakin Skywalker, believed to bring balance to the Force.
5. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie