How can a work of Literature be a living epic..? Do a little research on The Ramayana. Why is it a "living" epic compared to Homer's The Iliad or The Odyssey or Milton's Paradise Lost? Broadly, what's it about? You may even want to watch some YouTube clips.
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Simply put, a work of literature can be considered a living epic because the writing is something that is more than just a story. It is a work of literature that everyone in that culture can relate to. It also does not necessarily depend on the author, it is more of the work.
ReplyDeleteThe Ramayana is not just an ordinary story. It includes the teachings of ancient “Hindu sages” and it is presented in a narrative form with philosophical elements intertwined within it. The characters Rama, Sita, Lackshmana, Bharata, Hanuman and Ravana are all fundamental to the culture of India, so thus, the Indian people can all relate to these characters, and the story that is presented. It can become part of their culture, and their way of life.
In comparison to the Odyssey or the Iliad by Homer, the poem are considered epics, but not “living” epics because the story withing is nothing current “living” people can honestly relate to. Unlike the characters in the Ramayana, the characters in the Odyssey and Iliad are not fundamental to their culture.
Broadly, The Ramayana tells about life in India around 1000 BCE and offers models in dharma. The hero, Rama, lived his whole life by the rules of dharma; in fact, that was why Indian consider him heroic. When Rama was a young boy, he was the perfect son. Later he was an ideal husband to his faithful wife, Sita, and a responsible ruler of Aydohya. The Ramayana was a 24,000 couplet-long epic poem attributed to the Sanskrit poet Valmiki. Oral versions of Rama's story circulated for centuries, and the epic was probably first written down sometime around the start of the Common Era. It has since been told, retold, and translated throughout South and Southeast Asia, and the Ramayana continues to be performed in dance, drama, puppet shows, songs and movies all across Asia.
Brandon Richards
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The Ramayana, different from epics like the Iliad or the Odyssey, is a living epic in that it discusses the actual nature of life and has become a vital part of living Indian culture. As opposed to just telling a tale, it concerns interacting with others and how to live life in a successful, respectful, and peaceful manner. Homer's epics are salient pieces of literature on a historical level, but they do not provide a crucial contribution to modern culture, and therefore are not "living" epics. The Ramayana as a whole is composed of stories of Rama, his wife Sita, and a demon Ravana. Rama is a human incarnation of Vishnu, a Hindu God, and lives his life by the rules of dharma, a term meaning one's rightful and spiritual duty. Rama, in that sense, is portrayed as a heroic symbol because he is the embodiment of virtue and how one should focus his/her life. Sita, his wife, is the incarnation of the Goddess Lakshmi, and represents spiritual purity. These stories are still quintessential to the Indian lifestyle, and are therefore "living epics" because many people of the Hindu religion use the Ramayana as an archetype for how to responsibly and reverentially live life.
ReplyDeletePiper Miller
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The Ramayana is known as a living epic, as opposed to Homer's The Iliad or The Odyssey, simply because the values instilled in it have stood the test of time. While Homer told tales of historical and mythological significance, the Ramayana concerns itself with the Indian concept of dharma, which is one's righteous duties. The characters of Rama(widely thought of as the incarnation of the Indian god Vishnu) and his wife, Sita exhibit the fundamental values of Indian life and culture. The Ramayana depicts what the ideal people are like, and where their ideal places in society are. It also stresses the importance of relationships. These are prime examples of responsibility and ethics that can still be applied not only in Indian culture, but broadly across all cultures. In the love story of Paris and Helen, and Odysseus' fight to return home to Ithaca, entertainment value is found, but with the Ramayana, life lessons are stressed as being of the highest importance. The story of Rama's loyalty not only to Sita, but to his land of Ayodhya (as a part of his dharma) has been circulated around the world through the spoken word and later written down to solidify its prominence as an epic. It remains a living epic as it emphasizes how to live life ideally, and can be applied across borders and time.
ReplyDeleteHolly Denton
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Literature being a living epic is possible because of the way the Ramayana is recorded. It is interpreted in stories and songs and poems to relate to the Hindu culture, thus it lives in the people, not just on the pages of the epic itself. The Ramayana is an epic from ancient Hindu culture that broadly directs those of the Hindu faith how to practice the “Dharmic” way of life, which essentially means one harms neither man nor nature in pursuit of achieving happiness. It follows the lives of a family that is the royalty of Ayodhya (a part of India) and their trials and tribulations through life. It teaches “Dharmic” lessons about right and wrong consistent with most religious basis. People act the stories of these characters out in plays, sing about them, and reintroduce them in new forms every generation or so, making it living, breathing, and growing. The basis of the “Dharmic” methods are still intact, but the stories of Rama (suggested to be the human incarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu) and Sita are told in different ways all over the world because they explain theoretical perfection to achieve dharma. By comparison, the Odyssey and the Illiad are solely entertaining and while they reach boundaries for the basic concepts of conquering evil and such, they do not delve into the inner workings of being a perfect being, in loyalty to god and country.
ReplyDelete-Tatiana Becker B4
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ReplyDeleteThe Ramayana deals with the major events in the life of Rama. It is one of the most important literary works of ancient India. It begins with the Bala Kanda which describes the birth of Rama, and ends with Uttara Kanda that describes Rama's departure from the world. Unlike The Iliad and The Odyssey, The Ramayana has a crucial impact on art and culture, such as temple architecture and dance. Also, Rama is a popular deity that is worshiped in Hindu. It is considered a living epic because multiple versions of it have survived over the years.
ReplyDeleteDanielle Malcolm
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The Ramayana is an epic that broadly focuses on the ideals of devotion, duty, relationships, ideology, and righteousness through events surrounding its hero, Rama. Rama is the eldest son of a king, and thus he is destined to inherit the throne, however, one of his father’s wives manages to keep Rama from becoming king and has him sent into exile. Rama remains in exile for fourteen years, despite pleas from his brother to return. Rama’s wife Sita is captured by the demon king Ravana, and the rest of the epic deals with Rama rescuing her. In the end Rama returns a hero and a king. The reason the Ramayana is a living epic, and the Odyssey is not, is because the Ramayana is written with the intent to instruct its readers/listeners to prescribe to a certain moral code. The events portrayed in the epic are meant to instill certain values and morality for its adherents. The Odyssey, however, is written more for entertainment purposes. The Ramayana teaches values such as heroism, duty, and dharma(righteousness), while the Odyssey only provides a story that has a theme but no intrinsic values to teach.
ReplyDeleteA work of Literature can be a living epic if a group of people currently use it as a guideline for the way they live their lives. This is the case with The Ramayana. The epic connects the people of India no matter what caste they belong to, how far away they are from each other, or what language they speak. Most Indians learn about the characters in The Ramayana at an early age and use the knowledge to develop ideals and wisdom throughout their lives.
ReplyDeleteThe main reason Indians live by The Ramayana is because the hero, Rama, lives his whole life by the rules of dharma, a righteous and ethical way of living which is developed through ones own contemplation. Indians consider Rama the perfect son, the perfect husband, and a responsible ruler, therefore they tell their children to “be as Rama.”
Other epics, such as The Iliad or The Odyssey, are not considered living epics because they were mainly written for entertainment (and obviously a whole culture does not base their entire existence on them).
Amy Marshall
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The Ramayana, a living epic in itself, embodies the idea that a story can translate off of the page. Unlike other epics such as Homer and the Illiad, the Ramayana is a far older text which goes beyond retelling historical accounts and conveying basic themes of good versus evil and wrong versus right. Instead it delves into how to lead a prosperous and happy life based on Dharma, teachings often practiced in the Hindu religion. Acted out through storytelling and plays, these teachings are carried down, generation to generation, in order to teach the people to achieve a theorietical
ReplyDeleteperfect life. Stories of the epic Ramayana include the popular Rama and his wife Sita who are said to be the reincarnation of the Hindi God Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi respectively. Battling against the demon Ravana, the two become archetypes for people living and practicing in the early beginnings of society to people of the modern twenty-first century. For that, the Ramayana stands the test of time and serves as a constant "living reminder" to live a respectful and fruitful life based on Dharma teachings.
Maria Savarese
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Unlike the works of Homer, the Ramayana is considered a living epic because of its focus and depiction of the ideal nature of human and human relationships in Indian culture. Ideals that humans try to live their lives around such as duty based on your role in society and the ideal way in which to carry these roles are the focal points as opposed to a telling of a grand story like the Odyssey or the Iliad. A living epic as opposed to Homer’s are alive because they contribute to the structure of current society through its teachings and ideals. Rama’s drive to rescue his wife and his plight of being imprisoned are all depictive of how to be an ideal husband and an obedient son. Homer’s stories provide grand story telling rather then a moral code that can live on and be implemented in the society of the status quo. This is clearly depicted in the current Hindu religion where the Ramayana has been the influence of architecture, story telling, and even plays in addition to being a prototype of what morals and ideals to live by.
ReplyDeleteSylvia Percovich
Fourth Block
A "living epic" in literature is when a story means and becomes more than just a story that someone enjoyed or disliked. From "living epics" people change their lives completely and put themselves in as the characters in the stories. Unlike Homer's the Odyssey or Milton's Paradise Lost, The Ramayana is a "living epic". This epic is about life in India many years ago and tells of a story of a boy who was great in all ways, and tells young children to follow in his footsteps. Many Indians read this story very young and then create their ideals and wisdom of common life according to this epic. The Ramayana brings together people transcending caste, distance, and language. Therefore, it becomes more than just a story, it becomes a way of life.
ReplyDeleteIzzy Szura
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An epic is defined as a long poetic composition centered around a hero. Thus an epic is simply a way to describe a type of poem; a living epic is so much greater. A living epic generally begins as an oral tradition and is profound because it becomes a part the culture (or perhaps helps to define a culture). The Ramayana is a highly celebrated epic as it explains how everyone can live in accordance with dharma. The main character Rama is banished to the forest even though he is the rightful king. He respects his elders wishes and complies with his sentence despite his brother's pleas to rule the kingdom. His wife, Sita, demonstrates the perfect wife as she stands by her husband throughout his banishment. She is taken by the evil King of Sri Lanka but remains her purity as a moral wife should. The epic centers around the idea of good over evil and how to follow dharma. This is a major faction of Hindu culture and the epic is in fact celebrated in two all Indian holidays. What distinguishes The Ramayana from other traditional epics is its impact on the culture it has continued to have over time. It has been told, retold, translated and is still performed in dance, drama, puppet shows, songs, and movies throughout South and Southeast Asia. Many children hear the epic as a way to teach the fundamentals of Hinduism. Our culture has pushed epics like the Odyssey and Iliad into an almost untouchable glass case for the elite literary intellectuals. They are not embraced as a cornerstone of our culture, this is most apparent as many children know not of the great tales and have limited interaction in an academic setting. The Ramayana is a poem that many people of all ages interact with and connect with on a personal level outside and beyond that of required credits. That's what makes it a "living epic" versus simply an epic because it's such an intrinsic part of the Hindu culture.
ReplyDeleteAyanna Spencer
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A work of literature can be considered "living epic" because it survives time and is more than entertainment. The Ramayana is a living epic because unlike the Iliad and Odyssey the Ramayana puts such great God-like creatures through human-like problems.Gods experience jealousy, lust and envy is very different from other tales because all history of God's have said that they stand above humans. So placing these God's at such a human level, giving ourselves a chance to compare ourselves to such a perfect group of beings. The reason that the Ramayana is truly a living epic is because it relates to the human condition and because of its timelessness.The Ramayana is a interesting piece also because there is more focus on the tale itself rather than the author of the tale. unlike Iliad and Odyssey.
ReplyDeleteGeorgette Taluy
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A piece of literature can be a living epic in the sense that instead of a story being told about a fictional character a "living" epic depicts a real life story about a real person. The Ramayana talks about life in India, specifically focusing on Rama, the hero in this epic. The Ramayana differs from The Iliad or The Odyssey because it emphasizes the daily life and teachings of the India, depicting rules that many people abide by to this current day. The Ramayana discusses life and the current issues in their culture making it more relateable. These stories are passed down from generation to generation making it a part of life instead work forced upon a student. Prince Rama's character and moral integrity in this epic should somewhat be envied by all people, and it is this honesty and moral righteousness that the Indian culture tries to transcend down to their offspring.
ReplyDeleteKarlens Direny
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The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India. It depict the rules and regulations of relationships with characters that portray what is ideal such as ideal servants, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king. It begins with the Bala Kanda which is the birth of Rama and ends with Uttara Kandra which is Rama's death or departure from the world Verses in the Ramayana are written in a 32-syllable meter called anustubh. It is a living epic because it is an important influence on Indian life and culture due to it not being just an ordinary story, but containing the teachings of ancient Hindu sages and presenting them in narrative allegory.
ReplyDeleteAs oppose to "The Odyssey" by Homer, the Ramayana is not just written down but could be told through song and dance. Homer wrote about things that were not necessarily true, such as Odysseus visiting the underworld, which is impossible because no one has gone to the underworld and come back to tell what it's like. The Ramayana's life lessons had such a profound impact on India that it ushered in the tradition of the next thousand years of massive-scale works in the rich diction of regal courts and Brahminical temples. This living epic has been written in multiple versions and languages and has stood the test of time.
Vashti Powell
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A work o f literature can be a living epic if it continuously resonates within its intended audiences. It is living because it is capable of relating to generations in the future. Unlike Milton's Paradise Lost, The Ramayana does not focus on a very broad idea as the fall of man as a whole. The Ramayana is geared solely towards strengthening the Indian culture. This living epic is apart of the Indian culture. Studies have shown that, "from childhood most Indians learn the characters and incidents of th[is] epic and they furnish the ideals and wisdom of common life. The epic helps to bind together the many peoples of India, transcending caste, distance and language." Transcending beyond the definition of an epic, Ramayana has the ability to influence behavior and ideas. For the intended culture, the epic emphasizes the importance of one's dharma. The epic presents challenges to staying committed to doing so. Rama is the rightful king after his father Dasharatha, King of Aydohya , passes the throne. However, because of the king's promise to his second wife,Kaikeyi,- the king's own dharma- the throne is given to Kaikeyi's son Bharata and because of Rama's dharma to obey his father he accepts the banishments and flees to the forest. The epic continues with heroic encounters, from Rama saving his wife Sita to him gaining the throne and encouraging his constituents to follower his or her dharma.The epic has been told orally for many, many years and has been translated and adapted to various languages and cultures which further makes it a "living" epic.
ReplyDeleteJalina Pittman
Blk 2
A work of literature can be considered a “living epic” if it gives the reader a personally connection. It’s a more than just a story the reader makes a deep and life changing connection with the piece. The Ramayana is not just a story it’s a story about a young man that’s wife is kidnapped by the demon king Lanka, Ravana. Ramayana shows different challenges found in life as well as relationships. It was an important influence on the Indians regardless of their caste. It also influenced poetry, Indian life and culture, as well as, containing the teachings of Hindu sages. Ramayana portrays actual human behavior and focuses on respect, manners and relationships. While the Iliad and the Odysseys are epics about mythical creature and historical event. They don’t connect with the reader as the Ramayana does. Though they have many themes behind them, they are merely for entertainment purposes.
ReplyDeleteBecause a writing or piece of literature can be told verbally or expressed in songs, poems, and movies, it can be said that a work of literature is a "living epic". It can also be defined as a work of literature that's able to outlast time and that the values it entails is still taught and lived by after many years following, its teachings playing a significant role in modern society. The Ramayana can be considered as a "living epic" in that the details of the story is applied to the Hindu traditions of today's culture. Unlike "The Iliad", "The Odyssey", or "Paradise Lost", the Ramayana has become an important basis of not only the Hindu way of life but universally as well. The Ramayana touched on the idea of "dharma", basically meaning no harm is done to anyone else in order to reach happiness. The characters depicted in the Ramayana exhibited the values of the Hindu customs, which could be applied to other cultures/ways of life as well. Instead of simply telling a story for entertainment and being unable to relate to modern life, like the epics by Homer and Milton, the values expressed in the Ramayana can still be applied to many different cultures' ways of living to this day.
ReplyDeleteThe Ramayana consists of a series of seven books describing the lives of Rama, his wife Sita, and the demon king Ravana. Each book deals with major events in Rama's life such as his childhood and Ravana's kidnapping of Sita. The Ramayana is referred to as a "living epic" because of its profound impact on Indian culture. This epic focuses on the ideals of dharma and human existence, unlike the epics of Homer and Milton, which primarily deal with mythology and religion. The Ramayana's themes of loyalty, morality, relationships, and self-sacrifice provide universal appeal, shaping the lives of people throughout Southeast Asia.
ReplyDeleteEric Marshall
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ReplyDeleteBy withstanding time, and having an impact on someone, can literature be considered a living epic. The Ramayana is an example of a living epic since it is a major part of Indian culture. Epics such as The Iliad and The Odyssey simply seem to tell tales, and don't really have much impact. You don't see people out killing cyclops' with wooden stakes everyday! On the other hand, The Ramayana tells the story of Rama, considered a hero since he lived in dharma, and serves as an example of how Indians should live their daily lives. Rather than entertaining, the purpose of a living epic is to influence the way people think or believe.
ReplyDeleteCinthya Castro
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Unlike the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Ramayana is a living epic. The Ramayana is used today in Hindu culture as almost a guide to life or a standard way to present one’s self. It guides those who read it and tells them how to be respectful, peaceful, prioritize, ect. The epics that Homer has written tell a story and illustrate a historic culture’s beliefs, but people do not live their modern lives by lessons instilled in his literature. A “living” epic must be something that is used by a current culture on a regular basis. The Ramayana meets this requirement, but the Iliad and the Odyssey no longer do. Telling a tale, the Ramayana is a collection of stories that teach lessons to those who read it. The epic employs three main characters – Rama, Sita, and Ravana to tell a tale. Rama is a human form of the Hindu God Vishnu. He is seen as the “good” person that follows the rules of dharma and lives his life in a respectable manner. Sita is Rama’s wife. She is the human version of Lakshmi, a Hindu goddess. Representing spiritual purity, Sita lives a respectable life with her husband.
ReplyDeleteA living epic is one in which there is a cultural or religious purpose behind it with an intent for the teachings which have been passed from one generation to the next. Ramayana is a living epic since it is a vital piece of literature that has influenced Hinduism, mainly in India. Ramayana has been seen in works of art throughout time since it has heavily influenced culture. Ramayana’s purpose is to illustrate the concept of dharma, the path that is predestined to every human, and it is each human’s mission in life to fulfill his/her dharma, unlike Ravana in Ramayana who betrayed dharma which resulted in his punishment. The Iliad and Paradise Lost were written with the purpose of providing a method of entertainment through literature reflecting the ideals of the times in which they were written, yet they do not have any religious impression nor are they used to teach lessons of morality.
ReplyDeleteCassie
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A work of literature such as the Ramayana can be concidered to be a "living" epic because the values that is signify permiates or resonates, still to this day, throughout the Hindu (Indian) culture. Being about the protagonist, Rama, living a Dharmic life or a life of pure goodness and righteousness, the Ramayana's morals are preached which dictate how to be an obediant child or a non-farce of a husband. The "non-living" epics such as the widely known Iliad and Odyssey, while they are great fables and are great elaborate stories that tell of courage and strength, they do not have such a profound effect that dignify the morals of a society as the Ramayana dose.
ReplyDeleteBrian Cavanaugh
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A work of literature can be considered a living epic because it becomes more than just words on a page. They have a deep meaning that lives within the reader and changes their view on the most simple, everyday things of the world.
ReplyDeleteThe Ramayana is a love story between Rama, an ancient King, and Sita, who is captured by Ravan, the King of Ceylon. It explores the idea of human existence and a person's duty in the world. This is a clear example of a living epic because of the ties to Indian culture, which is a very important part of the Indian people. Their culture tied to the story is what makes it a living epic because it passes down through generations and is always making an impact on each individual because it teaches the main topics of morality and love.
Compared to other epics, such as the Odyssey, they do not give such a deep insight as they do in a living epic.
Francheska Periche
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An epic is living if it is used in culture as guidelines to the way one lives. Homer’s The Odyssey and The Iliad are not living epics because they just tell a story, the story has been passed down from generation to generation but it doesn’t present life guidelines to go by although it does possess universal morals and characteristics of the human condition. The Ramayana is about three characters, Rama, his wife Sita, and a demon Ravana. This epic reflects the Indian culture and how they live today, it would be the equivalent to the Bible in the Christian culture. Also although Homer’s epics are stories of great adventure and morals that humans can connect with, The Ramayana is held to the highest importance, everyone in India knows these guidelines and don’t dare to live outside them.
ReplyDeleteA work of literature is considered a living epic because it tells a story and emphasizes a connection to the way the ideal human lives throughout the depiction of different characters. The story does not have to be necessarily read from a book. It can be told in story form. The Ramayana is basically a story of Indian history that portrays the basics types of relationships that people form through the depiction of a royal family.
ReplyDeleteCompared to Homer's The Iliad or The Odyssey or Milton's Paradise Lost, the Ramayana is a living epic because it can be told through song, dance or simply story form, and does not center around stories and ficticious adventures.
Whereas an epic is simply an extended poem of enormous proportions featuring heroic characters, a living epic is one such poem who message and lessons are as relevant and necessary today as they were when the poem was originally composed. The Ramayana, which tells the story of Prince Rama and his quest to save his wife, Sita, from the evil demon Ravana, is still regarded as a crucial mechanism by whihc the Indian concept of Dharma is ingrained in Indian children. Milton's Paradise Lost, along the same lines as Homer's epics, tells a fantastical tale that is highly entertaining, but is by no means central to our understanding to the moral system of Western society. Rama and Sita allow their lives to be governed wholly by Dharma, and as such Indian children are encouraged to "be good like Rama." While Odysseus is certainly heroic and holds an important place in Western literary tradition, Greek children are not prompted to model their code of morality on his actions. Thus, the Ramayana is a living epic, because although it was written hundreds of centuries ago, its is still a hugely prevalent factor in Indian culture.
ReplyDeleteNari Kretschmer
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Epic's like Homer's the Iliad , The Odyssey , and Milton's Paradise Lost are lengthy poems that tell a story . Many of these are famous and well known because the stories are so amazing and entertaining . However , epic's like these aren't living . A living epic , like the Ramayana , is one that you can relate to your life . Epic's like The Odyssey may play an important part in literary history , based on the content of the story and the awe caused by that story . However , the content of such an epic isn't realistic , it isn't applicable to today . A living epic is one that can be related to life today . It may not be everyday life , or relating to everyone but in someway , to someone it can be applied to today's world . The Ramayana , for example , with it's topics of religion in relation to the Indian culture can be applied to many people of that culture . Who can read the Iliad and find a connection to today's world ?
ReplyDeleteThe Ramayana is a living epic as it holds the teachings and beliefs of the Hindu culture. The Ramayana is not just a bunch of teachings, but it details life in Hindu culture and it continues to serve its purpose. The Iliad, The Odyssey, and Paradise Lost are true epics, but they haven't "lived on" as they are merely for entertaining purposes, whereas the Ramayana serves as the continuing base of culture and is present in our society. Its teachings and ideals are still grasped by many people as life continues.
ReplyDeleteEvan Jackson
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The Ramayana is very much different from the Iliad or the Odyssey in that it is not just a story told for the sake of the tale, but as a guide to how life should be led. Though both the Iliad and the Odyssey are very important pieces of literature and are very important indications of historical culture, they do not continue to mold and shape the way people lead their lives based on the texts. The Ramayana on the other hand has very strong cultural influences in our modern society making it a “living epic”, an epic that still to this day influences the lifestyles of millions of people.
ReplyDeleteThe Ramayana follows the life and struggles, against the Hindu demon Ravana, of Rama, the reincarnation of Vishnu the Hindu god, and his wife Sita the reincarnation of Lakshmi. Rama represents virtue and how one should focus his/her life, while Sita is the embodiment of Purity. The stories are vital keys in the Indian lifestyle and therefore the Ramayana can be considered a “living epic”, a guide to life and how to lead a full and healthy life.
DAKOTA EDELSTEIN!!!!!
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The Ramayana is considered a living epic mainly because its ideals and traits are still used today by the Hindu culture. A living epic is one that continues to transcend time as its criteria is constantly viewed by people. This is different from The Iliad, The Odyssey and An Paradise Lost because these works of literature do not express a constant ideal and it is mainly just for entertainment purposes. To become a living epic, the work must provide views and traits that will continually offer advice, help and certain ideas for generations to come.
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