Essay on Comparative Analysis of The Ramayana and The Lord of the Rings
1. Thesis (note with an asterisk: *)
2. 5 sources, 2 of them books, cited in proper MLA format.
Bierlein, John Francis. Parallel Myths, 1st Ed. New York, NY: The Random House Publishing Group, 1994, pp. 267-303.
Narayan, R. K. The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic (Suggested by the Tamil Version of Kamban). Penguin Books, 2006.
3. 8 quotes (not paraphrases! actual quotes from sources, in “”) minimum from your sources, including the theorist.
4. Support your argument with quotes from the theorist you picked in your proposal from Parallel Myths.
5. Exposition and analysis of your classical myth, with appropriate classical & legitimate source.
6. Exposition and analysis of your modern myth.
Various cultures may have different myths, but certain similarities can be drawn from such stories that have been passed on from generation to generation. Myths are an expression of human experience and there are experiences that are universal. Such experiences may be presented with variations because of the differences in the norms observed and rules applied in different societies, but such commonality cannot be denied. The Indian epic Ramayana and the epic fantasy adventure trilogy The Lord of the Rings were written thousands of years apart and are based on two different cultures, but they share common insights about human nature and the struggle for self-actualization and collective security. The two works show the power of prophesy, the importance of company and loyalty, the connection of the past and the present, the limited role of women, and the imperfection of men and human beings in general.*
