World Literature Reviewer
Lit. 103 World Literatures
Preliminary Examination Reviewer
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Indian-Chinese-Japanese
Indian Literature
Aryan race- invaded India from North West * Brahmanism, Hinduism, and Jainism were their religions
Gautama Buddha- made many changes in the old religion; his teachings later became the basis for one of the five major religions
Sanskrit- oldest extant Aryan language, used in most Ancient Indian literature
2 Periods of Indian Literature 1) Vedic Period- 1500 B.C. to 200 B.C., writings were made up of religious and lyric poetry 2) Sanskrit Period- 200 B.C. to present, distinctive literature i.e. epics, lyrics, drama
Poetry- lyrical, blend of subjectivity and detachment
Vedas- religious scriptures written in Sanskrit, first millennium * Rig Veda- Hinduism Pantheism, Brahma the God, Creation Hymn * Sama Veda- Book of Chants * Yajur Veda- Prayer Book * Atharva Veda- Book of Spells
Prose 1) The Brahmanas- commentaries on Vedic hymns, possibly the earliest extant piece of Indio-European prose 2) The Upanishads- 108 discourses of the Brahman religion, gives information on Maya (the illusory world) and Nirvana (universal) 3) The Sutras- unintelligible treatises concerning rituals
Secular Works 1) Epic- magnificent view of life, polished diction, elevated style, focused on a central character symbolizing a whole nation
2) Drama- said to be invented by Brahma, first drama arose from ceremonies worshiping Vishnu-Krishna, held at royal palaces, always had happy endings
Sanskrit- upper classes; Prakrit- lower classes; Kalidasa- Hindu Shakespeare 3) Tales- written for didactic or religious purposes * The Jakatas- tells the story of Buddha * The Panchatantra- or The Five Books, series of tales intended as a manual for princes
Hinduism- religion of tolerance, cycle of birth and death, religion of the household, of veneration for ancestors,
Preliminary Examination Reviewer
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Indian-Chinese-Japanese
Indian Literature
Aryan race- invaded India from North West * Brahmanism, Hinduism, and Jainism were their religions
Gautama Buddha- made many changes in the old religion; his teachings later became the basis for one of the five major religions
Sanskrit- oldest extant Aryan language, used in most Ancient Indian literature
2 Periods of Indian Literature 1) Vedic Period- 1500 B.C. to 200 B.C., writings were made up of religious and lyric poetry 2) Sanskrit Period- 200 B.C. to present, distinctive literature i.e. epics, lyrics, drama
Poetry- lyrical, blend of subjectivity and detachment
Vedas- religious scriptures written in Sanskrit, first millennium * Rig Veda- Hinduism Pantheism, Brahma the God, Creation Hymn * Sama Veda- Book of Chants * Yajur Veda- Prayer Book * Atharva Veda- Book of Spells
Prose 1) The Brahmanas- commentaries on Vedic hymns, possibly the earliest extant piece of Indio-European prose 2) The Upanishads- 108 discourses of the Brahman religion, gives information on Maya (the illusory world) and Nirvana (universal) 3) The Sutras- unintelligible treatises concerning rituals
Secular Works 1) Epic- magnificent view of life, polished diction, elevated style, focused on a central character symbolizing a whole nation
2) Drama- said to be invented by Brahma, first drama arose from ceremonies worshiping Vishnu-Krishna, held at royal palaces, always had happy endings
Sanskrit- upper classes; Prakrit- lower classes; Kalidasa- Hindu Shakespeare 3) Tales- written for didactic or religious purposes * The Jakatas- tells the story of Buddha * The Panchatantra- or The Five Books, series of tales intended as a manual for princes
Hinduism- religion of tolerance, cycle of birth and death, religion of the household, of veneration for ancestors,