How do I begin to tackle Greek epic?

Greek epic can be one of the most simultaneously challenging and rewarding aspects of Greek literature. The ability to translate it requires determination and a considerable amount of work from a student preparing it for the first time. However, perseverance in learning grammar and especially vocabulary makes it easier with each and every day. Eventually you will begin to recognise familiar verb forms and vocabulary since phrases and sometimes even large sets of lines are often repeated word for word. The challenge of translating epic diminishes the more you read it, thus some hard work at the start will inevitably give way to greater fluency. When approaching epic for the first time, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and begin not to enjoy translating it because large amounts of time can often be devoted to translating only a few lines. But with just a little effort to commit certain things to memory, not only will you begin to read the text more quickly but also you will enjoy it all the more because you can start to appreciate the text and its nuances as a whole. It is at this point that reading epic becomes one of the greatest pleasures in the study of Greek, rather than its greatest burden.