Grand Question to the Muse (Epic Poetry)

The narrator begins by stating the main theme, invoking a muse or guiding spirit to inspire him in his great undertaking, and then asking the muse to answer a grand question. The narrative as a whole is supposed to answer this grand question.

Source: What is Epic Poetry – Virtue and Adversity: The poetry of Virgil in the DA Kidd Collection – University of Canterbury – New Zealand