Celtic Mythology : The ' Otherworld '

Todorov contends that real interactions between the self and the other only occurred in the realms of the natural and human spheres, wherein Columbus related to the material world and to living beings; while no direct communication occurred in the divine sphere, the beliefs and values associated with it ultimately affected Columbus’s interactions with nature and man by creating a predisposition for certain interpretations and judgments. The divine sphere of Columbus’s worldview exercised a preeminent influence on the other spheres as his faith, belief, and premonition served to create an environment in which “the concrete experience [of nature and man] was there to illustrate a truth already possessed” by way of faith (Todorov 17). Todorov finds that the material realms of man and nature were forcibly interpreted to correspond to Columbus’s preconceived ideas and expectations. Although the invasion of the Caribbean brought the European self and the Arawak other into contact for the first time, Todorov argues that Columbus’s “discovery” and creation of the other was ultimately a validation of what he already “knew” he would find.

Christopher Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca were both well experienced explorers of the New World. They both traveled to the New World to find out what was out there and if what they would find, could help them and their country. In the narratives, “Letter of Discovery” by Christopher Columbus and Castaways by Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, they exemplified the overall environment of the New World. Each explorer had quite the experience within the New World and interactions with the natives but they were not quite the same. Columbus’ journey consisted of learning about the new land and obtain resources to bring back to his country. Cabeza de Vaca also wanted to find resources and goods but mainly wanted to explore the land and try to understand if it was possible to create a society alongside the natives. As they went into the New World, they had found new discoveries but their purpose of the journey lead them down paths that would give off two different perspectives.

The use of a journey narrative as both an archetypal plot device, and a technique that facilitates and informs character development, is an enduring literary trope, likely as old as literature itself. The mere fact that journey narratives have persisted in literature, without inherently being regarded as overused, outdated, or clichéd, is indicative of the impact and influence this technique has when executed effectively. Additionally, this is testament to its adaptability, and capacity to complement and integrate within various styles and genres. Conventional journey narratives often follow a basic structure, contributing to reader expectation that a vast, far-reaching journey should be inherently reflected by vast emotional progress, and

In the book The Conquest of America by Tzvetan Todorov, Todorov brings about an interesting look into the expeditions of Columbus, based on Columbus’ own writings. Initially, one can see Columbus nearly overwhelmed by the beauty of these lands that he has encountered. He creates vivid pictures that stand out in the imagination, colored by a "marvelous" descriptive style. Todorov gives us an interpretation of Columbus’ discovery of America, and the Spaniards’ subsequent conquest, colonization, and destruction of pre-Columbian cultures in Mexico and the Caribbean. Tzvetan Todorov examines the beliefs and behavior of the Spanish conquistadors and of the Aztecs.

Both the ‘Odyssey’ and ‘1001 Nights’ feature male protagonists who traverse the seas, and the concepts and themes of men seafaring is common throughout most canonical texts. For example, the allusion of Odysseus’ difficult journey is made when a minor male character in Apuleius’ ‘The Golden Ass’ describes his seafaring adventures as being ‘positively Ulyssian’ (‘Ulyssian’ thus being a reference the Roman naming of Odysseus) (pg 29). Furthermore, both texts share themes, such as: seafaring, the supernatural, trials and tribulations, tradition, belief systems, and the geographical setting and pride in the protagonist’s home city play a key role to the overarching plots of the texts in the sense of the protagonist’s endurance and motivation to both leave and return home. Likewise, the supernatural is used to further the plot of both texts.

When Christopher Columbus reached the coast of the Americas, he believed that he had discovered a New World. And for the Europeans, the connotation of a New World was that it promoted an entitlement to explore, conquer and colonize otherwise unchartered territory. This perspective would, of course, fly in the face of the fact that the New World had in fact been populated by indigenous tribes that are described as plentiful in most accounts of first discovering America. For Columbus, the presence of these populations would challenge

To the Taino people, Christopher Columbus and his crew were complete strangers who arrived carrying swords and speaking an unfamiliar language. Yet the Taino men, women, and children quickly emerged from their villages and ran onto the island's beaches to welcome these unwanted guests with food, water, and gifts. (Zinn)

The Greek writer Diodorus Siculus describes the Celts religious practices as “striking”. “The temples and precincts made consecrate in their land, a great amount of gold has been deposited as a dedication to the gods.” Didorus Sisculus’ description of Celtic religious practices supports the strong influence religion had in Celtic culture. The Celts religion and religious practices hold an important part of life. Their religion cemented the Celts prolific culture and enabled their enduring

The “new world” that Columbus boasted of to the Spanish monarchs in 1500 was neither an expanse of empty space nor a replica of European culture, tools, textiles, and religion, but a combination of Native, European, and African people living in complex relation to one another. »full text

Throughout the myths of the Celtic and Germanic peoples of northern Europe tales of epic heroes and their extraordinary deeds abound. These tales depict heroes performing a variety of incredible feats; many of which appear to be magical, superhuman, and, quite honestly, utterly impossible (e.g., wading across oceans, defeating armies virtually single-handedly, and other astounding exploits). Since the Celtic and Germanic tribes of antiquity inhabited neighboring lands and lived in close proximity to one another (as many of their modern descendants continue to do: i.e., in Great Britain), it is not surprising that they often established intimate relationships with each other via commerce,

This article reviews the book by author, Woodward that tells the story of William Strachey chronicles events of a disastrous sea voyage and its aftermath had an influence on Shakespeare's “The Tempest”. Strachey is a passenger on numerous journeys to the New World, which eventually brought him to Bermuda and Jamestown colony in Virginia. Woodward uses Strachey's written narrative to illustrate the adventures. One of these adventures was the dramatic storm scenes, in which the entire crew of the Sea Venture nearly perished. Through Strachey, Woodward tells of the conflicts

“Trees are silent guards, they are listeners and they hold knowledge mankind has long forgotten.” A culture that once was all across Europe to nearly facing extinction amazingly survived thousands of years. Celtic Mythology was more than just whimsical stories to it’s people it was a way of life, including tales of these gods and goddesses who served a purpose of meaning the world and the qualities of a good person.

I agree with the quote “history is written by the victor” (Winston Churchill) as it is something true about history. Not only do the victors get to write history but they also get to hide or even eliminate some or all of an event. The victor is the one who ultimately gets to burn the other side’s history, their knowledge or discoveries, libraries, and their culture. The victor will most likely enslave or execute the loser bringing their buildings, towns, and cities down to the ground. An example that highlights the truth behind this quote is the elimination of the Celtic civilization. “Who were the Celts?” is stated in the article “Ancient Celtic history” this suggests that with what the Romans have written about them and the archaeological evidence discovered still little is known about the Celts. The article

Have you ever began to visualized a mythical land, overflowing with wonder and mystery? For instance a place where the inhabitants of this reality are not bound by the same rules nor logic that dictate our own lives? If you ever find yourself longing for a world alike to this, you can satisfy your depravation by delving into the novel “Lord of the Rings the Two Towers” by J.R.R. Tolkien. This reality is flowing with mythical creatures and magic. And using this essay I will describe the relationship between the novel and the author.

Many people today can associate with the classic tale of leprechauns and a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. This tale is a recurring myth within the realm of Celtic mythology. Celtic mythology was an integral part of ancient history throughout the British Isles especially Ireland. Authors of this magnificent form of literature have created stories that were based on the events of that time period and their works have transcended to future generations up until today. Overall, Celtic mythology and folklore has had a magnanimous impact on the world in lending itself for priceless amusable, educational, and historical excellence.