An epic is a lengthy poem or other piece of art that commemorates great deeds. Epic is derived from the Greek word meaning song, since Greek authors such as Homer sung their poetry. We prefer to use the term "epic" to describe large, ambitious novels or films, particularly if they include a long journey. The term can also be used to describe violent or dramatic scenes without being too intense. In modern usage, an "epic battle" or "an epic scene" means a major action scene in a movie or novel that is well written and highly motivated. The term is often applied to describe battles or scenes between villains and heroes that are very memorable because they're so dramatic. These moments often involve high stakes because lives are on the line. The term "epic failure" means an unsuccessful attempt at doing something; a fiasco. In film and television, an "epic fail" is usually seen as a moment in a show when one thing leads to another thing which causes yet another thing... you get the picture! This can either be done humorously or seriously through exposition or character development. An "epic win" means a victory that has epic consequences later on in the story. For example, in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, the villain Darth Vader kills the hero Luke Skywalker during their fight on Endor but then gets killed himself by Obi-Wan Kenobi shortly afterward.