[Answered] Discussion Question about Popul Vuh

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Purpose:  Practice discovering the epic themes of the sacred and the secular, gender roles, and the hero (in this case, heroes) and the journey, by considering a Mayan epic, Popul Vuh. This discussion should build your critical reading and analysis skills, as well as help prepare you for your essays later in the course. Keep in mind that, your central concern is to understand what the evidence about these epic themes reveals about the relationship between the epic heroes and their own cultures as well as the relationship between epic heroes and heroic elements common to human society in all times. 

 

Option 2:  The role of women: There are only a few female characters in the stories. How do female characters such as Xquic, Hunahpu and Xblanque’s mother, and Xmucane, their grandmother, demonstrate the power of women and seem to represent the culture’s view of female characteristics? How does the portrayal of these women compare with ways women are portrayed in other cultures or in our culture today? Provide some examples of the traits of Xquic and Xmucane in Popol Vuh and discuss the epic’s treatment of gender. You may include the “grandmother,” Great White Peccary, if you wish.

  1. Start by introducing, quoting, and discussing the following passage:
    • Then they [Hunahpú] and [Xbalanqué] began to work, in order to be well thought of by their grandmother and their mother. The first thing they made was the cornfield.  ‘We are going to plant the cornfield, grandmother and mother,’ they said. ‘Do not grieve; here we are, your grandchildren, we who shall take the place of our brothers,’ said Hunahpú and Xbalanqué (Part II, Ch. 6).
  2. Select another relevant passage of your own choosingfrom Popul Vuh.   Choose carefully, thinking about how these two passages might speak to overarching themes and the bolded text in the Purpose, above.
  3. How do the two passages illustrate a conclusion about roles of women in Popul Vuh, and how is that significant or important for understanding women in this culture or more generally? You might want to sketch out your initial thoughts in lists, a concept map, or whatever note format helps you the most.
  4. Structure and revise your initial thoughts into 1-2 robust, well-developed paragraphs and post them in the discussion.
  5. Respond substantively to at least two of your classmates’ posts, explaining why you agree or disagree with them (and you may agree with some parts and disagree with others).  Include other thoughts you may have about their topic and ideas.  Include a quotation to support each of your responses.

 

 

Solution

Popul Vuh is a key sacred memoir about the people of K’iche’. The story has great themes, such as the theme of the sacred and secular, gender roles, and the heroes (Hunahpu and Xbalanque). This story narrates the origin of the people, nature, the celestial beings, and how they interrelate.

An important theme in the Popul Vuh is the sacred and the secular life. Sacred, from the gods and how they tried to create life from mud and wood……………Purchase the link to access the full answer @$5