Format your paper, as demonstrated below and write a 5-page essay answering one of the following questions in depth.

Rely on the text for specific examples to defend your thesis, relate to topics discussed in class including literary and historical terms, and ideas that have been examined in this class. No outside research is required. No citation page is required. Include and define your terms. Introduce the author and the work (simply-- avoid extended plot summaries). Remember the focus of this paper is your argument. Reflection on specific lines will strengthen the work as will a complete and cogent thesis. Papers that do not conform to the following format will be penalized 10 points to start. Header in upper left corner 12 pt. Times New Roman Double Spaced 1-inch margins all around Title centered one double space above beginning of text No underlined, bold or italicized fonts except for italicized text to denote text titles. Page numbers in upper right corner in header (last name, a space and the number) Jones 1 Fred Jones Kim Idol World Literature 231 (sec. x00x) November 14, 2012 Title Beginning of text for the paper that will include a .5 indent in the first sentence of each paragraph. All questions require use of works from 3 different cultures. 1. How does the idea of destiny evolve through these works? It alters as the gods and the culture that shapes these stories changes. How does the idea of fate shape the notion of duty? Sometimes ones fate is clear to these characters and sometimes it is unknown. If ones purpose in writing an epic is to teach a common sense of cultural identity what is the difference between a hero knowing his fate or not? 2. How are knowledge (information you access directly) and faith (information you can never be certain of) compared in these works? Is one source of knowledge more potent? Does every story need both if so, why? Do not forget to mention of oracles, divine intervention and the cost/value of self-awareness. 3. How does the idea of the prophets/heros purpose change through these works? How do central figures in these texts prioritize and cope with what they feel are the primary concerns/conflicts/problems for human beings? How does the way problems are assessed and resolved reveal important cultural values? 4. How is the notion of oaths and storytelling examined in these works? Who are the promises made to and why? What happens when the promises are broken? Who breaks them and why? The result of a broken promise teaches as much as a kept promises. What does the value of a particular oath or promise in a particular story say about larger cultural values that the story is meant to support?