Literature is the combination of reality and imagination. It mainly focuses on the reality of human life and relates human being through myth. In the contemporary field of literature, Indian writers mostly use mythology in their works. In classical Greek, “Mythos” is refereed as any story whether true or invented. According to M.H.Abrams:
A myth is one story in a mythology or a system of hereditary stories which were once believed to be true by a particular cultural group and which served to explain why the world is as it is and things happen as they do establish a rationale for social customs and observations and sanctions for the rules by which men conduct their lives. (Abrams 14) Indian myth is based on legendary characters, about human lives, love, courage, fearlessness, revenge, hegemony and sufferings. Mostly, myth in Indian literature deals with the great epics; Ramayana and Mahabharata. The purpose of myth is to bring out moral among the contemporary society. Devdutt Pattanaik is the great myth writer in Indian literature. All his works are based on myth accompanied with the great Indian epics. Here, the discussion is
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There are so many characters in the great epic, Mahabharata but Karna is the one who experiences hardship from the beginning to the end. The intriguing hero, Karna who is born of royalty, but brought up by loving low class charioteer and his wife, his whole life is filled with struggle against all the obstacles and odds that overcomes of his time to reach his destiny, both as a man of low class and as a archer. The entire Mahabharata is seen as the story of a great Kurukshetra war, between the pandavas and the kauravas by ignoring the fact that the eldest of pandavas is Karna, who never gets his rights. Being a man of self esteem, he raises his voice against hegemony and sometimes bares the pain, burden and continues to move forward in order to fulfil his
He claimed that, by dancing the round-dance continuously, the dream would become a reality. Many Indians took his message and became dedicated to this belief. Another thing that fascinated me was the Indians beliefs to
When the word “myth” is spoken or written in today’s society, the first thing that probably comes to mind is that of a tall, muscular man with a beard holding a sword fighting off some sort of fantastical monster. However, when the word is more deeply examined, one can see that the word does not merely describe a story from some ancient time period, but rather it details a certain type of story consisting of certain factors. Some of these factors such as the ability to teach and the belittling of fears can be seen in John Steinbeck’s “Tularecito”. The story of Tularecito is a full-fledged myth, consisting of multiple key factors required to be so. Although myths are mainly thought of as stories from ancient times, “Tularecito” also falls into
Mythology is a collection of myths and stories belonging to a particular belief system or cultural tradition. Even though there are a variety of different myths taught around the world, Greek mythologies are more famously known for their fruitful stories and complex relationships. Greek mythologies mostly concern their gods and heroes such as; Hercules, Achilles, Theseus, and Perseus. Of the many Greek heroes, Jason is the most heroic due to the fact that although he is abandoned at a very young age, he is still able to survive, also he proves to Hera the goddess who hated heroes that he is worthy to be favoured by her, and he completes the impossible quest of the Golden Fleece. Jason is born in a very superior family, having a father who is the lawful king of Iolcus.
A hero’s journey consists of many mythological/archetypal characteristics--such as the characters, settings, situations, and outcomes. As unique as both stories are, The Lion King and Beowulf are great works of the hero’s journey following the mythological/archetypal path. The Lion King and Beowulf both revolve around the hero and outcast of the story. The quest and outcome are also other important components of the mythological/archetypal path.
Millenia after their creation, classical mythology continues to intrigue and inspire; Greek and Roman (and even Norse) figures and stories directly appear in the contemporary works of Rick Riordan, Jennifer Estep, Neil Gaiman, and Shelly Laurenston. Additionally, references and allusions to classical mythology frequently are and have been used in unrelated works for emphasis. The enduring strength and power of these myths is due not only to their divine and heroic feats, but also to the connection the audience can form with characters who don’t have happy endings, but suffer as much and often more than ordinary mortals. Thomas Foster, author of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, devotes an entire chapter of his book to the employment
There are many different forms of literature out in the world. They come in forms of novels, short stories, articles, and poems. They help people by allowing them to be informed about certain topics and they even make people forget about their daily lives while they enter a totally different world. If literature never existed nobody would obtain new information, they wouldn’t escape reality, famous authors wouldn’t be famous, and publishers wouldn’t be publishing any great works of art. What makes literature, literature, is its wide use of imagery and symbolism.
On top of this, he was a respected author who had several books to his name. This made him one of the most-educated people of his time. Worth noting is that his achievements contributed to scholarship because several people and particular to his Indian community looked up to him. Besides, he and other scholars had undergone through different experiences in the hands of the white man. For instance, he mentions the idea of the “great mystery” at the chapel when he was together with other scholars.
They are read to children by teachers. The stories of battles, immortal beings, ghouls and monsters that are out there to catch people and the ever-successful hero that always saves the day. These stories have been around for many centuries, told even before the first paintings were painted and first books were written. People’s beliefs have all derived from these old stories, as they bring hope to those in despair and inspiration to those lacking ideas. Myths and legends can be seen in all cultures
Mythology is the collection of myths that denotes commonly cultural and religious beliefs of ancient human beings. The elements of it were usually the involvement of god, goddess and heroes. In addition, it was based on a man’s desire, beliefs and ideas. It also told the natural occurrence and its main purpose was to teach people moral lessons. One of the example of Greek mythology is the divine hero of ancient Greece his name was Heracles, but people knew him as Hercules.
Myths throughout history, within different cultures, have shaped many types of beliefs and customs. One such nation that has traditions rich in mythology is the Japanese culture. Where a number of influences come together. Japanese mythology is an important standard for spreading Japanese culture from one generation another. The myth gives the Japanese people a better understanding of their connection to nature.
Greek Mythology and its Influences on Modern Society By Jenna Marie A. Macalawa, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite Campus 2014 Myths are not dissimilar to fairy tales, legends, and sagas, but its period is distinctly different from usual existential time. It is considered as an expression of childhood experiences, and it also explains the origin and meaning of the world. According to Long (1994), “The term mythology may describe a certain body of myths, for example, Greek, African, or Scandinavian, or it may refer to the study of myths” (p.694). These collections of narratives are superior when it comes to influencing different areas of knowledge. There are numerous types of mythology, but Ancient Greece is the one that has given an immense influence on modern society.
When we think of the American West, we always envision a land of rugged mountains and vast prairie, on which cowboys ride on horseback and chase after the Indians. This is the definition of the American West as presented on big screens in cinema, where most Americans’ perception of the myth of the American West comes from. Myth is a story that represents a culture's values and helps to define the individuals that comprise it. All cultures are based on myths.
The most important way to think about myths is that they are symbolic stories that attempt to answer difficult human questions about the universe. For instance, where did we and the world come from? And what is the meaning of life?. “We all want to know where we came from, but because our earliest beginnings are lost in the mists of prehistory, we have created myths about our forefathers that are not historical but help to explain current attitudes about our environment, neighbors and customs” (6). Myth functions as a guidance that explains everything that we come into contact with in the universe.
A myth is a false belief or idea. It is usually held within an old traditional story or it is a way to explain a natural or social phenomenon, typically involving supernatural creatures or events. Myths are stories of transformation. Many people are surprised to learn that ancient myth was often at least as violent, if not more so, than the mayhem of our modern fantasies. For example, The Godfather, and its companion, Godfather II, have been justly praised for excellence in such technical matters as acting and direction; their popularity is enhanced by less pleasant preoccupations: a lust for violence accentuated in recent years; an obsession with the details of organized crime; a cynical belief that only small distinctions separate lawless behavior from ordinary business practice.
The Two Great Indian Epics The Indian mythology consists of two great ancient epics The Mahabharata and The Ramayana. The Mahabharata was authored by Veda Vyasa known so as he had also compiled the four Vedas. Ramayana was authored by Valmiki. Both epics revolve around the concept of dharma and in both epics the protagonist is an avatar of Vishnu. Bhagavad Gita: What Krishna told Arjuna Bhagavad Gita is one of the most important texts in Hinduism as in it, god speaks directly to man.