The concept of a National epic, a mythological or partly
mythological large work of
epic poetry of defining importance to a certain
nation
(a political (or would-be) entity and/or an ethno-religuous identity),
is a product of the 19th century phenomenon of
Romantic nationalism. Examples of epics that have been enlisted as
Despite the similar names and close linguistic and cultural ties
between
Finland and
Estonia,
Kalevala and
Kalevipoeg are two completely separate works.
De Leeuw van Vlaanderen ("Flanders' Lion", nickname of the hero against
the French oppressor; in Dutch)
Flanders,
Dutch-speaking northern majority in the historically semi-artificial state
of Belgium