ENG 203 Mid-term Exam: Creation Myths, Tragedy, and Narrative Analysis

Creation stories and myths

Narratives that explain the origins of the world and humanity, often involving deities and supernatural events.

Cosmogony

A branch of mythology that deals with the origin of the universe and the creation of the world.

Oral narrative traditions

Storytelling practices passed down through generations by word of mouth, often preserving cultural heritage.

Cuneiform

An ancient writing system used in Mesopotamia, characterized by wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets.

Monotheism

The belief in a single, all-powerful deity.

Polytheism

The belief in multiple deities, each with distinct roles and attributes.

(Ancient) Tragedy

A dramatic genre that depicts the downfall of a noble hero due to a tragic flaw or fate.

Hamartia

A tragic flaw or error in judgment that leads to the protagonist's downfall.

Catharsis

The emotional release or purification experienced by the audience through the unfolding of a tragedy.

The Chorus (in tragedy)

A group of performers who comment on the main action of a play, often providing insight or moral perspective.

Hubris

Excessive pride or self-confidence that often leads to the protagonist's downfall in tragedy.

Literary translation

The process of translating written text from one language to another, considering cultural nuances and meanings.

Frame narrative

A story within a story, where an outer narrative sets the stage for an inner narrative.

Schadenfreude

Pleasure derived from another person's misfortune.

Orientalism

A term used to describe the depiction of Eastern cultures in a stereotyped manner by Western writers and artists.

Metafiction

A form of fiction that self-consciously addresses the devices of fiction, often blurring the boundary between fiction and reality.

Persona

The voice or character assumed by the author in a literary work, distinct from their personal identity.

Zuihitsu

A Japanese literary form consisting of a series of loosely connected personal essays and fragmented ideas.

The Epic of Gilgamesh

An ancient Mesopotamian epic poem that follows the adventures of Gilgamesh, a historical king of Uruk, and his quest for immortality.

Oedipus Tyrannus

A Greek tragedy by Sophocles that tells the story of Oedipus, who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother.

The Thousand and One Nights

A collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled during the Islamic Golden Age, framed by the story of Scheherazade.

Borges and I

A short story by Jorge Luis Borges that explores the relationship between the author's public persona and private self.

The Continuity of Parks

A short story by Julio Cortázar that blurs the line between fiction and reality through a narrative about a reader immersed in a book.

The Pillow Book

A collection of essays, lists, and anecdotes by Sei Shonagon, offering insights into court life in Heian Japan.