Purpose: Practice discovering the epic themes of the warrior hero, good and evil, and mortality by considering a major epic, Shahnameh or the Epic of Kings.
This discussion should build your critical reading and analysis skills,
as well as help prepare you for your essays later in the course. Keep
in mind that, your central concern is to understand what the
evidence about these themes reveals about the relationship between the
epic heroes and their own cultures as well as the relationship between
epic heroes and heroic elements common to human society in all times.
Tasks: Use the steps below to write 1-2
full paragraphs connected to the purpose and overarching themes in the
readings for this unit. Pick Option 1, 2, or 3 below, and follow the
steps outlined.
Option 1: Values of Persian culture as found in Shahnemah:
How important are choosing good versus evil and choosing loyalty to the
Shah? You may also wish to discuss some ways the often-praised virtues
of Persian warrior culture lead to tragic consequences for its heroes.
Option 2: Human mortality: Rustem is helpless against circumstances that cause the deaths of those whom he cares for. What
do the betrayals of Rustem and Saiawush and the deaths of Sorab and
Saiawush indicate about the Persian culture, or how do they express
Zoroastrian beliefs?
Option 3: The warrior hero: Discuss the heroic attributes of Rustem. Is there anything about his characteristics that reminds you of current heroes?
Start by deciding which option above you would like to write about. Once you have made that decision, then:
Select a relevant passage of your own choosing from Shahnameh
(about loyalty or about good and evil). Choose carefully, thinking
about how your passage might speak to overarching themes and the bolded
text in the Purpose, above.
Depending on which option you chose, explain the following:
Option 1: How does your passage illustrate a
conclusion about actions that are motivated by good versus evil or
choosing to by loyal to the Shal, and how is that significant or
important for understanding Rustem within his culture–or heroes more
generally?
Option 2: How does your passage illustrate a conclusion about the view of death within this culture or more generally?
Option 3: How does your passage illustrate a
conclusion about the meaning of victories in battle or struggles for
Rustem, and how is that significant or important for understanding
heroes’ battles as viewed within the Persian culture or more generally?
You might want to sketch out your initial thoughts in lists, a concept map, or whatever note format helps you the most.
Structure and revise your initial thoughts into 1-2
robust, well-developed paragraphs, using the passage you have selected
as evidence to support your ideas, and post them in the discussion.
Respond substantively to at least two of your classmates’
posts, explaining why you agree or disagree with them (and you may agree
with some parts and disagree with others). Include other thoughts you
may have about their topic and ideas. Include a quotation to support
each of your responses.
Criteria on which you will be graded:
Your selection of passages to support your argument is thoughtful
Your analysis is specific and original
Your post speaks to your selected theme and the Purpose above.
Your responses to your classmates are respectful and substantive
Your writing is clear and well-organized
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