Somewhere I Have Never Travelled: The Second Self and the Hero's Journey in Ancient EpicExploring the hero's journey as a metaphor for spiritual evolution in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Homer's Iliad, and Virgil's Aeneid, and focusing in particular on the relationship of the hero to one or more "second selves," or alter egos, Van Nortwick demonstrates how the poems address central and enduring truths about human life: that the exertion of heroic will in pursuit of glory can lead to alienation from one's own deepest self and that spiritual wholeness can only be achieved through confrontation with what appears at first to be the very negation of the self. Though addressing issues of interest to classical scholars the book offers an interpretation of the poems which is accessible to students and to others interested in how imaginative constructs reflect life. Because the hero's journey forms the backbone of each poem, the discussion also serves as an introduction to the central themes and historical evolution of ancient epic. An extensive annotated list of sources suggests avenues for further exploration of the ideas raised in the book, and a bibliographical essay aimed at scholars discusses relationship of the book's argument to previous scholarship on the poems. |
From inside the book
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Page 14
... presents the motif of the second self rather explicitly : arranging for Gilgamesh to confront his " second image ... present before and then somehow " lost " ) . What this will mean in Gilgamesh's case remains to be worked out , and ...
... presents the motif of the second self rather explicitly : arranging for Gilgamesh to confront his " second image ... present before and then somehow " lost " ) . What this will mean in Gilgamesh's case remains to be worked out , and ...
Page 63
... present in the Iliad , but not so vital to the portrayal of Achilles . The earlier poem presents the duality as one raising issues about the extent of human ability to control and rechannel the intrinsic order of the natural world ; the ...
... present in the Iliad , but not so vital to the portrayal of Achilles . The earlier poem presents the duality as one raising issues about the extent of human ability to control and rechannel the intrinsic order of the natural world ; the ...
Page 142
... present Aeneas ' compliments and ask for peace . The expedition is successful , with Latinus recognizing Aeneas as the foreigner meant for Lavinia , and offering her to him along with an alliance . The envoys are returned , laden with ...
... present Aeneas ' compliments and ask for peace . The expedition is successful , with Latinus recognizing Aeneas as the foreigner meant for Lavinia , and offering her to him along with an alliance . The envoys are returned , laden with ...
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Common terms and phrases
accept Achilles Aeneas Aeneid already anger appears battle become beginning body bring called comes context culture dark dead death denial Dido Dido's divine drive Enkidu epic face fate father feelings fight figure finally follows forces further Gilgamesh give gods Greek hand heart Hector hero hero's heroic hold Homer human Iliad important issues Italy journey Juno killing kind king larger least leave less lines literature live look male meaning mortals mother motif nature never offer once opening particular Patroclus perspective plays poem present Priam qualities reach reading reflect relationship represents response rest role Roman Rome seems seen sense ships shows spiritual story suggests tell things tion traditional Trojans Troy turn Turnus Venus Virgil wild Zeus