RETHINKING THE TOWER

OF BABEL
VIEW
The category “world literature” is a rather flimsy and
difficult one to define and build on.
It is quite difficult to come up with a coherent picture
of world literature because of literary traditions of the
world vary in many ways.
This is so because they run parallel to the world’s
history and the shifting of social and political
landscapes.
CLASSICAL GREEK LITERATURE
...places keen emphasis on the relationship between
arts and the state
For philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, good art has
social and religious functions.
- festivities in honor of Dionysus, the god of social
and religious functions
- comedies, tragedies and satires
Best example of tragedy, for Aristotle, was Oedipus
Rex.
MEDIEVAL AGE in EUROPE
The medieval age in Europe saw an interesting
fusion between literature and Christian theology.
The teachings of the Church permeated the
literary tradition of the medieval world, such that
aesthetic motifs were inseparable from dominant
Christian themes.
In the poem “Dream of the Rood,” one encounters
a tree that willingly gives itself to the woodcutter
so that its wood may be used to crucify the Lord
(theme: it’s fine and noble to give up one’s life for
the sake of Christ)
MEDIEVAL AGE
One of the more popular stories from the
medieval age would be Dante’s Inferno.
Chronicling a man’s fictional descent into the
darkness of hell, this allegorical masterpiece also
proved to be an interesting document of medieval,
Christina political thought.
The fusion of religious worldviews and literary
tradition is not confined to the West alone
The Indian epic Ramayana is not just a long story
about Rama’s quest to reclaim Sita and defeat
Ravana.
MEDIEVAL AGE
Hindus see Ramayana as devotional text,
much like the way Christian see the Gospels.
- Rama is believed to be an avatar, or the
reincarnation of a god- in this case Vishnu,
the preserver of cosmos. As such Rama is not
just seen as hero but as an embodiment of
the different virtues that a Hindu must have.
The Hindus call these traits dharma (“duty”
or “moral righteousness”)
The significance of literature in the civic
formation of a leader can be seen in the teachings
of Confucius.
- For this philosopher, part and parcel of the
ethical formation of a future civic leader was the
reading of the classics.
 To be a student of Confucian teachings, one had
to be well-versed in the literary arts.
Literature was part of the reasons as why Chinese
give so much value to their tradition.
WORLD LITERATURE
The category of “world literature” is not neutral or
free from bias.
Most of the required materials are western texts,
with exception of Asian classics like the Ramayana
and the Analects of Confucius.
World Literature and Western Canon have been
used interchangeably.
WORLDVIEW
A worldview is a way of comprehending reality.
It encompasses principles, values and philosophies
that shape the way we interpret the things around us.
Food and Function
List at least five uniquely Filipino or Asian dishes and
their social functions, i.e., what personal or social
circumstances are in place whey they are served.
An Earnest Parable
MERLINDA BOBIS
STORY ANALYSIS