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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page research paper/essay that examines the African Epic of ancient Mali, the Sundiata. The writer discusses the ways in which this African legend can be considered to fit the definition of epic literature, in favor of it fitting that definition. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khafepic.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
and a heroic past. The worlds great epics, Homers Iliad and Odyssey and the Old English Anglo Saxon Beowulf, were related orally long before they were committed to paper. Similarly,
the African epic of Sundiata has been related orally for generations. An examination of the Sundiata epic demonstrates that it contains the classic elements of a great epic. Just
as Odysseus and other Greek heroes had miraculous births, i.e. a celestial mother or father, supernatural elements are connected with the birth of Sundiata. First of all, Sundiatas lineage is
known for their bravery and also for their ability to communicate with spirits (The Legend of Sundiata). Also, Sundiatas birth is prophesized. King Maghan, Sundiatas father, is told that two
hunters will come to him with a very ugly woman. Despite her appearance, he must marry her in order to beget Malis greatest ruler. Sundiatas mother is a woman
named Sogolon, who is the human double for a buffalo (The Legend of Sundiata). As predicted, hunters bring her to the king. She is "hideous and wild" but
also endowed with extraordinary powers (The Legend of Sundiata). Sundiatas youth is inauspicious, to say the least. At three years of age, he was still crawling and rarely spoke.
However, supernatural strength is indicated when he finally does stand. Sundiata instructed that a heavy iron rod should be brought to him. While leaning on the iron rod, he not
only stood up, but bent the rod into the shape of a bow (The Legend of Sundiata). The ability to do miraculous feats is also a characteristic of the
epic hero. Beowulf, for example, also possessed super human strength, as did Gilgamesh. Now that Sundiata had shown himself fit to take his fathers throne, he was a serious
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