Preview

The Ancient Worldview

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
586 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Ancient Worldview
The Ancient Worldview
Frequently authors use literary devices such as the plot, theme, characters, and imagery, in their work to express their personal worldview. Sometimes this is a conscious effort and other times they do it accidentally, since it is very natural to be influenced by social, cultural, or historical factors that occur throughout one’s life.
Worldview plays an even bigger part in literature that was created in Ancient history, because we must often rely on the translation of a story that has been passed orally from generation to generation for thousands of years.
The Bhagavad Gita for example was written over two thousand years ago, and since the original language of the Gita was Sanskrit, which many people did not know how to translate, the first complete English version was not made until 1785 (Johnson, 1994). Consequently, before this time the Gita was simply passed orally in a very broad translation, and with no theological overview of the text. (Johnson, 1994)
The Illiad which was created sometime between 800 and 400 BC, much before written history also relied on oral translation of the text. After a few centuries and many storytellers later accurate recall of historical events blended with Greek Mythology and made it very difficult to determine just how much of the story was based on fact or fiction. During the time periods that these literary works were written mass production was not available, therefore the worldview of the storyteller had a great impact on how the literature was being passed along. For The Bhagavad Gita, this meant that the translation may vary depending on the readers spiritual views. This text represents Hinduism and Indian Spirituality and if the translator had different religious beliefs they omit or change the story to fit their own belief(Johnson, 1994). The Illiad, on the other hand, is based much on the mythology of Ancient Greece. (Manguel, 2007) However, since the myths underwent so many



References: Johnson, W. J. (1994). The bhagavad gita. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press. Manguel, A. (2007). Homer 's the iliad and the odyssey: A biography. New York, NY: Grove/Atlantic Inc.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    These Hebrew writings were known as the Tenach. The writings remained in the Semitic languages until 280-150 B.C. when they were translated by Jewish scholars and Scribes into Greek at Alexandria, Egypt. This translation was known as the Septuagint, the manuscript’ accuracy and reliability was confirmed by the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, 900 in all, between 1947 -…

    • 484 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Bhagavad Gita Tradition

    • 133 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Bhagavad-Gita is an essential part of Hinduism. Hinduism is one of the oldest belief systems in the world. The Hindu culture is very complex and diverse because of how many gods and different core foundational beliefs they follow and live by. Their sacred texts are referred to as Vedas, which are considered to be a vital part in their traditions. The Vedas are seen as much more than just religious writings. They are seen as deeply rooted in the history and culture of India The Hindu culture has other books filled with poems, hymns, stories that the Hindus believe in whole-heartedly. Like Christians believe God is three in one with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit the Hindus believe their supreme god named Brahma is Vishnu and Shiva…

    • 133 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    How might a literary work be read out of its time and place and still represent and produce culturally significant ideas and attitudes? Refer to two texts you have studied.…

    • 1671 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    humanities final essay 3

    • 2852 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The power of literature really has no limits: it enables authors as well as readers to make significant revelations and, in turn, embarks us on a journey that leads certain meaning, often in the form of a powerful enlightenment because we are obliged to see the world from the author’s perspective and this leads to the reader’s questioning of meanings.…

    • 2852 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kant vs Hinduism

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages

    There are many similarities between the analyses of religious works of Hinduism (the Gita being used in this case) and the philosophical work of Kant, or even Buddhism and Hume for that matter. Both argue from similar premises about personal identity and share similar conclusions about human action. Their metaphysical models are similar, as are their rules of logic, and some feelings towards one’s duty. They make their claims from different perspectives, but there is little difference in the content of their claims when looked at from either point of view.…

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Texts are a product of their contexts. (How the same story can have a different meaning based on their context)…

    • 1434 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    History mimics itself with Christianity. The New Testament came about after the time of Jesus, because of his teachings. At first, things were shared orally. Especially in Rome, because Christianity it was forbidden at first. After that, His followers wrote religious poetry, stories, narratives and teachings. Then later, someone chose what to include and what to omit to the Christian religious book.…

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Rig-Veda is considered to be foundational in Hindu religion, containing mythology of the Hindu gods through the form of hymns. It is assumed that The Rig Veda was passed on orally for many generations, much like the theories of the compilation of the Bible. At around 300 B.C. the Vedas were written down in the form we have them today, first inscribed in Vedic, an early form of Sanskrit. The Bhagavad Gita also stands as an ancient Indian text which became an important work of Hindu tradition in terms of both literature and philosophy, written at some point between 400 BCE and 200 CE. Similar to the Rig-Veda, the Bible is also a collection of texts in which one single origin cannot be identified, but rather is argued by historians to have…

    • 958 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    earliest copy was found in 400 BC. This is compared to the New Testament that…

    • 1556 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Book Of Kells

    • 635 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The principal sacred manuscript text during the late fourth century is the Bible " The Book," written in Greek, corresponding of Hebrew scriptures including the "Old and the New Christian Testament." Although Bibles were undertaking during the early medieval, monasteries acquired a complete Bible that priest used to predicate the word of God in their…

    • 635 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Bhagavad Gita

    • 1207 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Before examining the Bhagavad-Gita I believe it is necessary to have a general understand of the fundamental teaching of Hinduism. I have some knowledge of Hinduism from friends, but really have no understanding of what it really means to be Hindu. The comment that a Hindu friend of mind made to me once about Hindu is that it is not really as much of a religion as much it is a way of life and respect for it. I know that Hindi worship many different gods and revere some animals as sacred, but I have never really understood the fundamental of this religion. I am grateful that this assignment has given me the opportunity and motivation to examine the Hindu religion and one of it great literary works.…

    • 1207 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Of the many traditions handed down to us by the Greeks, their mythology has exercised the most far-reaching and longest-lasting influence, attracting a long line of artists, writers, philosophers, composers, and filmmakers. The extent of this influence results in part from the vibrant, ancient literary and artistic tradition that has transmitted the mythology to us. A familiarity with Greek mythology can therefore significantly enrich your appreciation of art, literature, and music, and the myths often provide fascinating insights into the individual and societal psyche. Finally, the stories are in and of themselves exceptionally entertaining.…

    • 203 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Bhagavad Gita

    • 985 Words
    • 3 Pages

    When one reads a religious text other than their own, remembering to stay objective is necessary, because if one add their personal feelings and beliefs into the reading they will easily miss the message, forever living in a state of ignorance. The Bhagavad Gita (Song of God) is a philosophical discourse on the duties and the meaning of life and death. Many believe this text holds specific instructions on how to please God and stay in his favor. Either argument can be made because the Bhagavad Gita does both; helping one deal with daily life struggles and giving them a better understanding of what is happening, while simultaneously pleasing God. But is this all the Bhagavad Gita entail? A text with a bunch of touchy verses, telling it’s followers how to feel and think? The state of objectivity will help one break the religious barriers and grasp the full message of the Gita.…

    • 985 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    byzantine empire

    • 6485 Words
    • 26 Pages

    Theophrastus’ Historia plantarum, was written around 300 .. This work and later Hellenistic efforts, such as Nicander’s Theriaka and Alexipharmaka of ca. 130 .. (two poems on…

    • 6485 Words
    • 26 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    vidhyapati

    • 1111 Words
    • 4 Pages

    a shift to local languages as opposed to the formal Sanskrit of the religious texts.…

    • 1111 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays