Sundiata, Role Magic, Fate, Supernatural, Dreaming Play? Essay

Sundiata, role magic, fate, supernatural, dreaming play? Where find elements Islam epic? Reference Book:

The supernatural, and all of its manifestations -- including magic, dreaming and fate -- play a highly substantial role in the plot of D.T. Niane's Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali. This fact is due in part to this tale's continuance of the tradition of epic literature, in which heroes overcome tremendous odds that are fueled in no small part by the influence of gods, fate and supernatural forces. Yet Sundiata's very origin -- which was prophesized by a divine hunter in the court of his father, the king Nare Maghann Konate, as one who was fated for greatness -- underscores the reliance upon the supernatural that many of the events in the plot of this story hinge upon. In that respect, the supernatural (even in its manifestation in organized religion such as Islam) is the unifying thread that unites the different elements of Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali.

As the preceding paragraph indicates, Sundiata's very existence was begotten from supernatural augury.The supernatural is also the principle means by which he is able to actualize this prophecy and fulfill his role as the great king who engendered the Mali Empire. Sundiata's chief antagonist is the sorcerer Soumaoro Kante, who uses his magical powers to oppress his subjects and those who oppose him. Sundiata is not able to reign freely as king until he overcomes the sorcerous machinations of Kante, who was known to live on the seventh floor of a great tower "in the midst of his fetishes" (Niane, 1965, p. 38). Fetishes are spells and manifestations of supernatural power. In many ways, Sundiata's triumph over Kante represents his triumph over the evil aspect of the supernatural which the latter symbolizes, and enables the benign divination of Sundiata's reign as king to truly begin. The principle obstacle Sunidata has to overcome and his own fulfillment of prophecy all demonstrate that the major developments of plot within this story are based upon elements of the supernatural.

Moreover, the elements….....