“The Shipwrecked Sailor” Egyptian (2200 BCE)
Is this a short story or not?
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It is a short story |
It isn’t a short story |
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Narrative format/folktale (beginning, middle, end)—build to a climax and denouement and ending—it is a psychological drama which builds to a “climax” of the sailor honestly responding, being himself, telling the truth, |
Do we have a climax in this story? We don’t see him get off the island; action but does it build— |
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Storytelling—oral tradition—story with story (frame narrative or frame tale); the incremental repetition to advance tale (mnemonic device to remember story); oral formula—(What has brought you here, what has brought you here, little one) |
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Exposition and dialogue (dialogue/scene) |
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Moral lesson (Listen, have faith) show leadership |
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Simple characters (2 main characters) |
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Unanswered questions (open-endedness that engages the audience in participation) when will the sailor die? |
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Not all that lengthy; short |
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Conclusion (all fine and merry) happy ending—it has an ending |
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Story is fictional—not a true or real occurrence and the audience knows that (“the scribe of cunning fingers,”—suggests fiction?); serpent talking makes it fiction |
Can’t be sure that the audience thinks that this is not real; did they believe in talking serpents? |
Liminal: relating to boundaries, either physical or psychological
Frame narrative: format in which the act of storytelling is dramatized and leads to a story within a story (The Arabian Nights)—movies (The Princess Bride—dramatic arc as listener is transformed by story; The Notebook; Final Destination (dude is storyteller); often uses flashbacks; The Canterbury Tales; The Reader; The Neverending Story
Serpent challenges sailor to tell him something he doesn’t already know. The sailor honestly tells his story and worries that it won’t be enough. But the serpent replies positively to his honesty (short story like—even this seemingly insignificant sailor’s life is significant, his experience/survival is valuable and worth communicating to others).
Comparison to Jonah and the whale: God has willed this. Survival is important. The individual is important. Different from Jonah and the whale in that the serpent protects him and speaks.
Element of humor and humanism in the tale because the serpent smiles at the extravagant claims of the sailor’s proposed gifts. In effect, the serpent says, “you’ve passed the test already, get up.”
The dialogue reveals character: the serpent is wise, just and flexible—but values truth, honesty. Serpent epitomizes integrity. Serpent is not the evil figure of Judeo-Christian tradition (have to remember audience expectations can differ). Cadeucus—serpents as healers
What is the gift of the serpent? Besides baboons, etc. Wisdom. Life is not about him. Honesty is the best policy. To listen. Learn how to show respect where respect is due. Don’t overdo it. Easy does it. Don’t promise more than you can achieve. Be yourself—be true to yourself and your experience—don’t try to be something you’re not. Despite gifts, material things are not as important as spiritual.
Moral of the story: Become a wise man, and you shall come to honor.
Learn from experience. Wisdom comes at a price. Use your suffering to learn about yourself and the world. Honor is more important than pride.
How could the sailor have acted differently and come to a different moral? He could have lied—and died. He could have killed the serpent. Made some large boots. But the story is not about conquering “nature” but learning from it. Becoming nature, becoming aware of your nature.
The story also names the author at the end. Does this indicate its fictional nature? Does it show the author's importance in crafting a tale--above and beyond the role of narrator in the frame story?