Final answer:
The Pleistocene epoch is referred to as sounding like a heroic poem, due to its grand-sounding name and the epoch's notable events, such as significant glaciations and the emergence of humans and large mammals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The geological epoch that is referred to as sounding like a heroic poem in the clue is Pleistocene. This is because the term 'heroic poem' can be associated with stories of epic adventures and ancient narratives, and the word 'Pleistocene' phonetically carries a poetic and grandiose connotation. The Pleistocene epoch is known for its significant glaciations, as well as the emergence and proliferation of humans and large mammals. It does not directly relate to a poem, but its grandeur invokes the epic scale typically associated with heroic poems.