Tales of Death (The Tain)

The Tain seems mostly to be a litany of quick battles between many brave men and the fighter Cu Chulainn. Instead of mentioning that several fights happened and and several people died, The Tain mentions every specific fight that took place and what warriors were killed in that battle. Most of these are one-on-one because of the pact that Cu Chulainn made with the Irish. Why do you think the book tells the tale of so many individual deaths instead of briefing on some? What significance does this imply to the reader when this epic tale was created?


The Tain. Trans by Ciaran Carson. New York, New York. Viking, the Penguin Group. 2007.

What's in a name? (Mahabharata)

Many characters in The Mahābhārata go through several name changes. An example of this is Vasusena, whose name changes to Karna [the cutter] after his “act of unequalled generosity” (20) There are many metaphors for a name and the importance of a name. Frequently a birth name is a symbol of honor, a person’s heritage which we saw held great importance in establishing who you were in battle in the epic poem The Iliad. What do you think is the significance of a name in The Mahābhārata?

What does that significance hold for you – specifically how would you respond if your name was changed based on an action you committed, or if in general, names were changed based on ones actions.

References:

The Mahābhārata, Trans. Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan, Page 20

Picture from: http://www.moviewalah.com/diary/2006/08/30/mahabharata-your-cast

Tearing of the Hair or Beating of the Breast??

When faced with a moment of anguish do you find that you beat on your breasts or tear out your hair? If you're female chances are you go for the chest beating, and if you're male you're more likely to sacrifice your mane. There are many examples in The Iliad where women and men alike express their anguish through these methods. For instance, in reference to Priam's agony at seeing his son Hector stand up against Achilles, he "groaned and seizing his gray hair tore it out by the roots" (544) Briseis gives us a breast slashing when she finds Patroclus dead in Achilles tents, "she flung herself on his body, gave a piercing cry and with both hands clawing deep at her breasts" (497) Why do you think a womans pain is linked to her breasts? Why is mens pain linked to their nogin?


References
1) Homer, The Iliad, Trans. Robert Fagles, Page 544, Lines 90-91
2) Homer, The Iliad, Trans. Robert Fagles, Page 497, Lines 335-336

Pacts of Friendship

It is a theme throughout the Iliad that when two fighters are parting in friendship they exchange a gift with one another. An example of this can be found on page 224 of the Iliad, by Homer, "come, let us give each other gifts, unforgettable gifts, so any man may say, Trojan soldier or Argive, 'First they fought with heart-devouring hatred, then they parted, bound by pacts of friendship'" These gifts that they are exchanging are battle items: war belts, armor, swords. What do you believe is the significance of exchanging gifts on the battle field between two fighting armies?