Journey Motif In Literature: The Journey Motif In World Literature

The Journey Motif in World Literature
A journey, in a work of literature, is a quest or trek towards a goal, destination, or understanding that serves the progression of the plot. A motif, in a work of literature, is a recurring theme, object, or idea that is notable and distinctive. The journey motif in epics of World Literature is a consistent, fundamental, and revealing aspect. The journey itself serves as a symbol and is used to represent an epic hero’s adventure which ultimately leads to an epiphany, or some self-realization, or self-discovery that solidifies the work as a whole.
The journey motif is one of many commonalities among epics of World Literature. For example, in Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh journeys to Utnapishtim in order to uncover the secret to eternal life. In Beowulf, Beowulf journeys to Grendel’s mother’s lair to bring peace to Heorot and King Hrothgar. In the Aeneid, Aeneas journeys to the underworld to meet his father and learn the future of Rome. The list could go on; from the Odyssey, and the Iliad, to Dante’s Divine Comedy, the journey motif is a prominent and significant common denominator across various works of World Literature.
Not only is the journey motif a consistency among famous epics, it is also fundamental. The journey itself is important and fundamental because it tests the character’s capacity as an epic hero (Grandfield). The journey the character undertakes stands as an essential rite of passage, though that rite of passages comes in various forms, which establishes why the character is a hero in the first place. Furthermore, the journey, the hero, and the hero’s triumph or defeat, are all necessary components of the epic itself (Grandfield). The journey has an over-all purpose to fulfill the w...

... middle of paper ...

... himself as the indestructible epic hero (Bibire). In the Aeneid, Aeneas discovers the future of Rome and the necessity of his voyage across the Mediterranean. All of these journeys lead to an illumination of the epic hero. The responses and reactions to the obstacles of their quests tell the reader a great deal about them, exposing their self-discovery and their qualifications as epic heroes (Grandfield).
The journey motif in epics of World Literature is essential, in whatever form it is presented. The journey motif in epics stands as a symbolic enlightenment for the character. Consistent, fundamental, and revealing, the journey motif in epics of World Literature allows the hero in the literary work to evolve and provides the epic itself a means to conclude. There is something about a journey and the obstacles encompassed that complete and unite epic literature.