342 Arts and Entertainment
FIND OUT MORE. Theatre 344–345 • Writers 348 • Writing 339
2 BHAGAVAT PURAN
This sacred Hindu text contains
Indian history and mythology.
Here the god Rama (a form of
the supreme god, Vishnu) and
his human wife, Sita, are seated
on a five-headed serpent.MYTHS
All cultures have myths – stories that reflect religious and social
beliefs. These stories feature gods and superhumans and explore
the great questions of life – such as “Where do we come from?”,
“Why are we here?”, and “Why does evil exist?”IS ALL NON-FICTION LITERATURE?
Much non-fiction is written for reference only and so
is usually not considered to be literature because the
information being conveyed is more important than
the literary style. Compare this with a biography
where the author’s writing style and interpretation
of facts is essential to the understanding of the subject.WHY ARE DIARIES IMPORTANT?
A diary is a daily record of a person’s thoughts and
experiences, often not intended for publication. The
great English diarist Samuel Pepys (1633–1703) wrote
in code. His diary records a mixture of great public
and intimate personal events and builds up a vivid
picture of the times in which it was written.WHY DO MYTHS EXIST?
Although myths are old, they still appeal to us
because they contain lasting truths about the way
people feel. The myth of Persephone, for example, is
about the annual crop cycle, but also illustrates the
strength of the bond between mother and daughter.WHAT IS THE ORAL TRADITION?
The oral (spoken) tradition is literature that has not
been written down but passed on from one storyteller
to another over many years. Myths began in this way.
The oral tradition continues today with storytelling,
folk tales, and children’s stories.WHAT IS A HERO?
Mythic heroes are humans with superhuman powers,
often because one of their parents was a god or
goddess. They have to show tremendous courage in
overcoming spiritual and physical challenges to save
an individual, their family, or an entire nation.Lotus flower is a
Hindu symbol of
divine beauty Sita is a human
form of the goddess
of wealth, LakshmiRama’s half-brother,
Lakshmana, becomes
a snake to make a
bed for the couple1 THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
This young Jewish girl recorded
how she and her family hid from
the Nazis in Amsterdam during
World War II. She gave a moving
account of the difficulties of her
life, but also her friendship with
the son of the family hiding
with them. Anne Frank died in
a concentration camp in 1945.1 THE GREEK MYTH OF PERSEPHONE
The goddess Persephone is kidnapped and taken to the underworld. While
she is gone, her mother – the corn goddess, Demeter – grieves, and the
fields lie barren. In spring Persephone returns, and so do the crops.1 WILD TURKEY BY JOHN JAMES AUDUBON
Audubon (1785–1851) was an American natural history author
and illustrator who wrote The Birds of America. His detailed
observations included beautiful hand-coloured engravings.NON-FICTION
Non-fiction deals with facts and real events,
and is written in prose. It includes histories,
essays, travel-writing, letters, biographies,
and diaries. The first known work of prose
was a history of the Persian wars, written
by Herodotus c. 430 BCE in Ancient Greece.Rama’s blue skin
shows he is a form
of the god Vishnu