Final answer:
The story passed down orally for centuries is considered to be an oral epic, as it was part of the oral tradition before being written.
Step-by-step explanation:
Since this story was passed down orally for centuries, it is considered to be an oral epic. An epic is a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, which narrates the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures.
Oral cultures valued the tradition of memorizing and transmitting tales and history through spoken word, which often included stories of warriors and their fates. Examples of such epics include Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey, which were originally part of an oral narrative tradition before being written down.