Abstract
One of the primary purposes of technical writing is to create memorable texts, especially when they involve large amounts of interrelated information or complicated step-by-step procedures. Epic poetry traditionally employs poetic devices which aided the poet in recalling as many as 27,000 lines of verse. These devices include not only familiar features such as rhyme and meter, but higher-order patterns of organization called formulae and themes. Recent research shows that these features also enable readers to recall the material. This article explores how these poetic forms work to enhance memory, explores some contemporary research in cognition which has confirmed their mnemonic value, and suggests ways that technical writers may apply them in their work.