EPICS FROM EAST TO WEST

Eastern Epic Western Epic

1. Title Heike
Monogatari
Gilgamesh Ramayana Monkey King
Biag ni Lam-
Ang
Orlando Furioso Beowulf The Aineid
Cantar de
Mio Cid
Parzival
2. Poet
Yukinaga Anonymous. Valmiki Wu Cheng'en
Pedro
Bukaneg
Ludovico Ariosto Anonymous Virgil Unknown
Wolfram von
Eschenbach
3. Country Japan Iraq India China Philippines Italy England Italy Spain Germany
4. Epic Hero Minamoto no
Yoshitsune
Gilgamesh Rama
Sun Wukong

Lam-Ang Orlando Beowulf Aineid El Cid Parzival
a. Ability/Skill
Samurai
Great warrior,
partly God
Incarnation Of
God Vishnu
Supernatural
Powers
Can talk at
young age
Warrior/Knight
Great warrior,
King
Partly God
Nobleman
and Miitary
Leader
Faith in God
b. Weakness No known
weakness
mortal
Beautiful
Women
Iron Crown on
his head
Eaten by a
shark
Angelica Ego
Motional
impulses
No known
weakness
Ignorance
c. Hero Helper Enkidu Hanuman Xuanzang Rooster, dog Ariosto Wiglaf Pallas Babieca Old Hermit
d. Fights for what
Clan
wants to be
immortal
Dharma
To retrieve
Buddhist Sutras
from India
Save his
father and
win
Ines'heart
Religion
Wants to prove
his greatness
Fulfill his
destiny to
found a
great new
race
Country
To become a
Knight
e. Family Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No
5. Antagonist
Minamoto no
Yoshinaka
Utnapishtim Ravana Zhu Bajie
Sumarang
and Igorots
Muslim Army
Grendel,
Grendel's
mother
Turnus
Ramon
Berenguer
II
Klingsors
Knights
6. Classicism Failed Failed Passed Failed Failed Failed Failed Passed Passed Failed
Beauty;Failed True:failed True;Failed True: Failed True,Beauty;Failed
True,
Beauty:Failed
True;Failed

Question no. 1: What are the differences between Eastern and Western epic?
Differences in Eastern and Western epic are affected mainly by its historical background, its geographical setting and philosophical views. By carefully comparing observations made by
specialists in Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Western literature concerning problems of literary values, canon-formation, and the concept of literature itself, the author tries to answer
some of the most pertinent questions in comparative aesthetics. The western and eastern tradition began as neither a western nor a eastern tradition, they grew out of the differences
between the generic nomadic beliefs that spread everywhere both in what we currently call 'East and West' as well as local, settled beliefs that were divergent as you can get today
amongst cults internationally. Even the oldest Upanishads show a heavy greek influence from the Pre-Socratic philosophers of Asia Minor. Comprehend there were civilizations between
Greece and India, from Bactria to Asia Minor to Iran and Iraq and Egypt.

Contemporary Eastern Epic Contemporary Western Epic
1. Title Naruto The Hobbit Star Wars
2. Poet Masashi
Kishimoto
J.R.R. Tolkien George Lucas
3. Country Japan UK USA
4. Epic Hero
Naruto Bilbo Baggins Luke Skywalker
f. Ability/Skill
Kyuubi Great Inner Strength Lightsaber
g. Weakness
Emotions
Cant see well in the
dark
Using his Force
h. Hero Helper Sakura Gandalf Obi Wan Kenobi
i. Fights for what To Become
Hokage
Reclaim their Gold Space Empire
j. Family No No No
5. Antagonist Uchiha Madara Goblins Darth Vader
6. Classicism Failed Failed Failed
True;Failed True;Failed True;Failed


Question no. 2: How come in Philippines there are several epics to represent their country?
Centuries before the first Spanish ship set sail on Philippine shores, the country was already steeped in cultural traditions, folklore, myths and epic stories. Usually in the form of poetry,
these pre-colonial Philippine epic stories were tales of adventure, love, heroism, magic and origin passed on through story-telling. Because Philippines is an archipelago there are lots of
places in the Philippines where the people would think that they are separated from others thats why they think of their place as a different world where they have their own myths,
legends, heroes and many other forms that symbolizes their culture and motherland.





Cris Vincent R.Sedanto HUM1: World Literature
BS ECE 5C September 8, 2014