Epic of Sundiata

Epic of Sundiata, pp. 3 – 58, Norton Anthology Volume C.

Assignment 8 – option 1: While you only need 1 paragraph, it must incorporate valid secondary research.

What to do:

You are to write no more than 2 paragraphs to answer the question. You can, if done correctly, complete this

assignment with one paragraph. Follow all the grammar, structure, etc. rules previously established

throughout the course.

The question to answer is as follows:

Explore the impact of friendship in the West African epic. Who are the important sets of

friends? What are admired traits in these friendships? Do friends help Sundiata to

accomplish his destiny, or hinder his accomplishment? How? Find at least three passages

from the text to develop and support your thesis.

Assignment 8 – option 2: While you only need 1 paragraph, it must incorporate valid secondary research.

What to do:

You are to write no more than 2 paragraphs to answer the question. You can, if done correctly, complete this

assignment with one paragraph. Follow all the grammar, structure, etc. rules that have been established

throughout the course.

The question to answer is as follows:

What role do women play? That is, should the women in the Epic of Sundiata be called heroes? If yes,

explain why. If no, explain why not.

In order to answer this question, you must first identify the role that a woman or multiple women play in the epic. After you identify the role, you must state your position: Is this a heroic role? Find at least three passages from the text to develop and support your thesis.

How to do it:

Write a double spaced, well-developed paragraph, which starts with your topic sentence,

which should directly answer the question above in a clear and concise manner. The rest of

your paragraph has three types of sentences: 3 Support Statements, 3 Citation Statements,

and 3 Explanation Statements and: The new section: 3 Quotes from Peer-Reviewed

Journal(s) to support your ideas. This means you need 3 separate quotes, from 3 separate

journal articles. You must use all 3 MLA-Quotation styles (I, II, III) (found on page 3, in the

right hand column, under the “NEVER USE S.A.Q. STAND ALONE QUOTES” heading of the MLA TipSheet

on Jenzabar). Traditionally, the best place to add a quote is AFTER each Explanation

Statement.

Commented [WLD1]: For example, many argue that the Epic of Gilgamesh presents no heroic women. However, some will say that the Temple Harlot is a hero because without her presence, without her action, without her guidance; Enkidu would never have met-- and at least in an indirect manner, saved--Gilgamesh from his own avarice.

So why am I using this Gilgamesh character as an example ? This female character is usually ignored, if not downgraded denigrated, by reading audiences and scholars, who prefer viewing Gilgamesh as the hero. So, I use that example as a means of showing the following: Don’t get locked into a typical or a standard or a traditional definition or idea of who can be a hero.

The following questions may help get you started: Who are the women in the work? Of the women, on which one(s) do you want to focus? What is her role? Does that role influence Others? How so? On a scale of 1 to 10, is that influence important? How so?

Last but not least, your paragraph must end by summing up or Restating the main argument

you have been analyzing. To do this effectively, restate the Topic Sentence. You should use a

transition word at the beginning of this sentence as well.

When to do it:

The first draft is due by Friday, 11:55 pm via Coursework submission. You must attach a

Grammarly report with your submission! Your paper should reflect changes you made, based

on the grammarly report. I will grade (or evaluate, if it does not pass) your work and return it,

no later than the following Monday. If there is no grade, you can revise and re-submit by the

next class session.

Possible Topic Sentences: (You cannot use these verbatim. You can use the structure if you wish, but you must

generate your own sentence.) Otherwise, you are plagiarizing and will fail.

The heroic role of women in Sundiata’s world involves the displaying of critical insight, pivotal leadership, and

supernatural strengths.

Women have a significant impact on Sundiata’s life. In a negative light, women cause his troubles. However,

in a positive light, women cause his victories. All in all, the role women play is significant.

When one analyzes women’s positive and negative roles in Sundiata’s life, one sees that Maat permeates all

throughout the Epic of Sundiata.

When one analyzes Women’s positive and negative roles in Sundiata’s life, one sees that reveal Maat

permeates all throughout the Epic of Sundiata.

The role of women in Sundiata’s world involves the displaying of critical insight, pivotal leadership, and

supernatural strengths, thus making women heroic.

Women have no significant roles in the epic.

Usable Research:

(You can use any elements of the following quotations in your writing. You must, however, ensure that you

are following the correct MLA format when you use them. You are, at the same time, free to locate your

own researched articles to support your ideas.

• Sundiata's mother not only endures the long pregnancy and the insults of other women, but she

travels with Sundiata into exile, guiding and protecting him, and offering him crucial advice” (Mbele

63).

• … women are in dispensable as facilitators of the careers of the hero. Typically the hero

succeeds in African epics only because of the crucial assistance of a woman. (Mbele 88)

• . . . women as insightful and resourceful problem-solvers” (Mbele 62)

• It is the mastery of the supernatural that determines true heroism and distinguishes the hero from the

everyday common person. Moreover, the hero in those epics cannot rely solely on his human

capacities as he has to fight forces beyond the human realm. It is the hero's ability to perform actions

that he would not have otherwise been able to undertake if he were not endowed with superhuman

powers that distinguish him from any other person (Deme 412).

• It is undeniably clear from the above quotation that the hero of the African epic, contrary to what the

observer from elsewhere outside African culture may think, is not a mere puppet, manipulated by

outside forces, but a person who has complete control . . . (Deme 412).

• Dominant throughout the corpus is some form of extended, heroic struggle against adversity or

adversary, always, it seems, with the aid of a supernatural helper (often female) such as a genie, or

some form of mag- ical protection, and often with a "wilderness" or exile period, ranging from the

young Sunjata's time in Mema or Nema, to Mwindo's visit to the under- world (Bulman 39).

Extra Credit: 5 points added to your Mid-Term grade. PROPERLY Document 3 additional RELEVANT entries on the work

cited page WITH a corresponding permalink. That is, find 3 other articles from which to cite. Due Date: April 9th, 2021

by midnight, via Jenzabar.

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Works Cited

Bulman, Stephen. “African Epics.” African Studies Review, vol. 42, no. 3, 1999, pp. 34–40. JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/525202. Accessed 25 Nov. 2020.

Deme, Mariam Konate. “Heroism and the Supernatural in the African Epic: Toward a Critical Analysis.” Journal

of Black Studies, vol. 39, no. 3, 2009, pp. 402–419. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40282569.

Accessed 25 Nov. 2020.

Mbele, Joseph L. “Women in the African Epic.” Research in African Literatures, vol. 37, no. 2, 2006,

pp. 61–67. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3821156. Accessed 25 Nov. 2020.