A sweeping tale is a story that is grand in scale and scope. It is usually a long narrative that follows the lives of many characters over a long period of time. The two words that are often used to describe a sweeping tale are 'EPIC' and 'SAGA'. An EPIC is a long narrative poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation. A SAGA is a long, involved story, account, or series of incidents.