World Literature Comparison Work - Essay Example

World Literature I This selected story is from Panchatantra -The mice and the Elephants. It uses non-human character to convey a moral lesson. Thespider in the trickster tale, “Why We Tell Stories about Spider” is very intelligent animal. He is aware about his insignificance in God’s eye and therefore to prove his worth he tricks God. Annanu, the spider, wants that stories must be told about him as well .The God gives him some arduous tasks and tells that if he is able to accomplish them, then he can have his stories told as well. He is very small creature and it appears that he will not be able to fulfill the tasks granted but with his wit and acumen, Annanu successfully carries the responsibility of the tasks. Similar to this is the story of the mice, in the book called Panchatantra, The Mice and the Elephants, the mice are very clever creatures, and at the first place it appears that would they never be able to repay the King Elephant for the good he once did to them. Nevertheless, when the time comes these small creatures leave no stone unturned to help the elephants out. The use of non-human character renders effectiveness to these fables. These fables are meant to deliver some message and are morality based. They lay set of rules for the individual, which needs to be followed for living in a society. Animal characters worked well in ancient times in the sense that the tales were carried out objectively without offending anyone and secondly,the ancient people felt that animals need to be recognized as living creatures with individuality. As God has bestowed life in all beings irrespective of class and gender, they play important part in our lives. These stories would change if the characters were human and the animals were different. In the story of The Mice and the Elephant if there had been some other animal instead of mice the important moral that this story tries to convey that is never underestimate people with little appearance would have lost altogether .Similarly, In the story Why We Tell Stories about Spider ,would have been ineffective. Even God tells spider to prove his significance in order to get his stories told. He is a trickster and be fools mighty animals, no other animal in his place would have justified this. 2. All that Glitter is not gold is a proverb that conveys a very profound meaning. Human being has a tendency to get attracted towards beautiful things that is, they judge people with the outer appearance. This adage is true, as appearances are deceptive some times, that is, all that glitters or shines is not necessarily gold or holds value of Gold. April showers bring May flowers, this proverb suggests that some unusual happenings are always accompanied by the best fortunes. April showers refer to the bad times or unusual happenings which are always followed by pleasant or good times. Ask me no questions, I will tell you no lies, this one refers to ideology of the present generation that is; there are some subjects, which I would rather not discuss. Three proverbs from the textbook are, “It is no use crying over spilled milk”, “A penny saved is penny earned”, “where there’s a will there’s a way”. The proverb, “It is no use crying over spilled milk”, reflects a common truth of life that whatever is lost is lost. There is no use lamenting on the thing that is lost as it will not come back .The second proverb, “A penny saved is penny earned” is an advice, that expresses the basic truth of life. The people who squander must know that they need to save for the rainy days or the hard times in the life. Saving the money is a good habit and helps one facing hard times. The third proverb, “where there’s a will there’s a way expresses common truth that if a man is determined to do something that the life opens ways for you that is the doors of opportunities open for people who have desire and determination. A proverb is defined as a short pithy saying in frequent and widespread use. It expresses a basic truth or practical precept. All these six proverbs are distinct, but they are similar in the sense that they convey the basic truth of life, common human experience, and ideas. The African proverb Quarrels end, but words once spoken never die bears similarity with this English Proverb Words are harsher than the Swords or a pen is mightier than sword and He who is unable to dance says that the yard is stony bears similarity to A bad works man always blames his tools. The basic truth of life remains same in all the cultures. 3. Hail to thee Our National Hero Our native hero A beacon of hope A flare for liberty Our national Hero Our native Hero Glorifier of the nation Fighter of the common person Fighter against unjust A fighter against discrimination Our national Hero Our native Hero Jailed for retaliation But never complained He smiled his very big smile And took the hardship in his stride Our national Hero Our native Hero Founder of African National Movement And a loved president Acclaimer of world’s praise Noble prizewinner Our national Hero Our native Hero A Fighter life long And a person with compassionate heart Writer of the book, “Long walk to freedom” Nelson Mandela. You are our National Hero Our native Hero Hail to thee, O river Nile For your earnest presence in this land Giving life to our land, rearing trees and the men Tending women and the kids Nurturing gardens and the farms. Giving life to our animals Hail to thee, O river Nile Calm down, O river Nile Offerings made to thee Oxen slain to thee Great festivals are kept for thee Beasts are caught for thee Fires are offered to thee Calm down, O river Nile Thou are the creator Thou are destroyer Thou are preserver Thou are sustainer Life is impossible without thee O river Nile Enlighten our land Egypt O river Nile. Offerings of God reach thru’thee O river Nile Gods are appeased thru’ thee Men are extolled thru’ thee O river Nile Enlighten our land Egypt O river Nile Known is His way in heaven He manifest in your form Shine forth, shine forth, O Nile Long Live Nile. Giving life to men Giving oxen lithe lives Shine forth, Shine forth, O Nile Long Live Nile 4. When Inanimate will start talking, a chaos will result. The title of this fable is CHAOS Rash finished his job the other day and was coming back from work. The night seems to have fallen early or he started late, he did not see the time when he left the office. He came and stood at the stop waiting for the bus. He kept his laptop on the bench and turned around to look at the bus timmings.Do it gently please, it hurts was the voice that came from around the corner, he turned around, but no one was there ,he was surprised and said to himself, who could that be. Just then, the voice came from the pole, do, as he says. He was shell shocked, a talking bench and pole. He ran to save his life. As he crossed the road, he saw Shane coming, Hey! Rash, what’s up man? Why are you running, Shane asked. Rash told him , when he kept the laptop bag on the bench it said “do it gently” and when he turned around to see who spoke these words the pole said “do it the way he says”. Shane seems to be amused and suddenly they hear someone saying, “it sounds strange - a speaking bench and a pole”, as they both turned around to see who the speaker is; they were petrified to see a speaking briefcase in Shane’s hands. They both ran for their lives and pass by a store. The shopkeeper is seated on the stool just outside his shop watching the on goers. Hey! what man? What’s up? Why are you running like this? Rash stopped to tell him that ,when he kept the laptop bag on the bench it said “do it gently please” and when he turned around to see who spoke these words the pole said “do it the way he says “. And my briefcase said, “it is strange- a speaking bench and a pole”. The man listened to them patiently.He appeared to be wise .He allayed their fears and told them to forget it and not to run around shouting and disturbing the peace, they might be caught by police thinking they are hooligans. The two men got quiet and left that place. The shopkeeper got up smiling at the entire incidence. He picks up his stool; he is about to close the shop, when the stool remark, Fantastic isn’t it, “imagine a talking bench.” Read More