Transcript Indian Literature

Indian Literature
The Rig Veda
“Night” - from the Rig-Veda
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A hymn: a lyric poem, or song
Addressed to a divine being
Praise the power and wisdom of deity
Ask for mercy or divine help
• “Night” praises Ratri, goddess of night AND
asks for help/protection
“Night” - from the Rig-Veda
• Page 368
“Night” from the Rig-Veda
• Personification: the giving of human
characteristics to a nonhuman subject
• Find an example of personification on p. 368
• Why would it be comforting for the ancient
Aryans to refer to night as a goddess?
“Night” from the Rig-Veda
• Simile: comparison of two apparently
dissimilar things, using like or as
• Find at least 2 similes in the hymn
• Explain each one.
“Night” from the Rig-Veda
• Metaphor: two unlike things are a compared
directly, without a comparative word such as
like
• Explain the metaphors in verses 2, 4, and 7.
“Night” from the Rig-Veda
• Apostrophe: direct address of an absent
person, quality, or entity as if it were present
• In a hymn = divine being
• A way to “get a handle” on cosmic forces
– Make them more approachable
“Night” from the Rig-Veda
• What is the main idea of this hymn?
• Cite two lines for your support.