Literary Terms
The literature passed down through the ages by word of mouth.
What is Oral Tradition?
This blind poet is credited with with the author of the Odyssey and the Illiad.
Who is Homer?
In "Perseus," the priestess at Delphi predicts this fate for King Acrisius.
What is killed by his grandson?
In this Indian epic, Rama fights Ravana in a classic battle of good versus evil.
What is The Ramayana?
A long comparison over many lines.
What is epic simile?
Rather than thinking of themselves as belonging to a country, Ancient Greeks had loyalty to these instead.
What are city-states?
Joseph Campbell says that this common event many women do is an example of heroism.
What is motherhood?
According to Elie Wiesel, this is he definition of a tzaddik.
What is "righteous man"?
What is in media res?
The chief Greek god, married to Hera.
Who is Zeus?
These are the two key players in the battle in Ramayana?
Who are Rama and Ravana.
This is the major difference between the washwoman and the narrators family in "The Washwoman."
What is she is Gentile and they are Jewish? OR
she is poor and they are not?
This type of literature in the Oral Tradition describes the actions of gods or heroes or explains the origins of elements of nature.
Who is myth?
These special "prophets," like the ones at Delphi, often gave vague and/or misleading answers.
What are oracles?
Perseus uses this item to kill Polydectes.
What is the Medusa's head?
The man who wrote The Hero with a Thousand Faces, from which we get the ideas of the Monomyth and the Hero's Journey.
Who is Joseph Campbell?
These are two characteristics of an epic.
What are: long narrative poem, combines myth and legend, larger than life hero, dangerous journey, hero helped or hindered by gods; detailed portrait of a culture, battle of good versus evil; lofty language
The Greek gods especially loved to punish people for pride which is this word in Greek.
What is hubris?
Angier describes this event at the beginning of her article, "Of Altruism, Heroism and Nature's Gifts in the Face of Terror."
What is September 11?
This is a theory that suggest individuals can enhance their reproductive success both by having offspring and caring for relatives.
What is "inclusive fitness"?