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Western Texts and Modern Beliefs. Western Texts and Modern Beliefs People
have placed their ideas in and explained their culture ...
... literature and increasing recognition of non-Western-European genres ... in the reading
and writing of literary texts. ... An example of post-modern thought would be ...
... northeast as the Euphrates River in western Asia ... Modern scholars first learned to
read when they ... required the students to memorize classic texts, take dictation ...
... elements, including the influence of modern Western culture, itself ... The beliefs for
both nations are pretty ... stem from their religious texts, traditions and ...
... have attracted a non-Chinese following until modern times ... compared to (and contrasted
with) Western conceptions of ... Early texts describe Tao not as equal to "the ...
Submitted by trentmaster on April 30, 2007
Category: English
Words: 1176 | Pages: 5
Views: 107
Popularity Rank: 71,574
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Western Texts and Modern Beliefs
People have placed their ideas in and explained their culture through literature since the first recorded literary work. As societal beliefs have changed, literature has reflected these beliefs in the stories they tell. Despite the differences, many literary elements have remained virtually unchanged. The hero, for example, has been a major part in texts throughout history. Great early western texts such as The Epic of Gilgamesh (1200 BCE) and the Odyssey (800 BCE) were based entirely around the hero. And even today, films such as Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, hailed as one of the greatest works of modern-day cinema, involves the hero in a more modernized role. Though the hero (or heroes) is not as easily seen as in other works of the past, the defining elements are there. The hero can be explained as a phenomenon in literature because similarities can be seen in writings from every historical period.
One of the greatest hero tales over written is The Odyssey, because the defining elements are clearly visible. The hero, Odysseus, travels to many lands on his journey home. Through the peoples Odysseus meets, Homer depicts all of the human wrongdoings, such as gluttony, apathy, deceit, and ignorance. He portrays the Greeks as civilized and intelligent, as opposed to the uncivilized, disgusting people like the Cyclops. Since Odysseus has been gone for so long, his son has no father to raise him, and his wife has suitors constantly seeking her in marriage. Social order has been disrupted, and must be restored by a hero.
More modern forms of heroism can be seen in Pulp fiction. There are three heroes, Jules and Vincent, low-rent hitmen, and Butch, a boxer. Having three heroes clearly portrays how writing has changed from the texts of the past, but the characters still share the same traits as those created long ago.
Heroes have a sense of justice and having the right to interpret and...
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