Cerita-Cerita Epik Terpilih Dari Tamadun Barat Dan Islam: Satu Kajian Perbandingan
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Date
2001-01
Authors
Adnan, Zaitun
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Abstract
This study sets out to examine the similarities and differences
in the selected epic texts from Islamic and Christian traditions of the
Middle Ages, such as Hikayat Amir Hamzah, Hikayat Muhammad
Hanafiyyah, El Cid of Spain and The Song of Roland. The study
focuses on the concept of heroism, the historical background, and the
worldview of the societies which gave birth to these heroes, as well as
the factors which motivate the epic characters to possess their
respective attitudes.
With the battlefield as background the four epics produced the
four heroes who demonstrated their capability and established their
names and came to be categorised as national heroes after showing
their valour in the battlefield.
They got involved in war was due to the religous principal of
jihad. The meaning of jihad in both traditions were different; jihad for
the Christian means 'holy war'. Those who were killed in the battle
were called 'martyrs'. They aim to attain glory, wealth, position and name and were promised by their religious leader that they would enter
heaven after death.
It was different with the Islamic view. Whereby those who
went for jihad and died in the path of God were called syuhada. Their
jihad was accompanied by deep Faith and Fear of God and not for
material gains. Those who died in the battlefield in defence of their
religious would accordingly be awarded by God alone in the form of a
place in Heaven.
It has been found that all four heroes in this study possess
similar inner qualities such as fearlessness, physical strength, wisdom,
expertise in the use of weaponry, and leadership or chieftainship in
their respective societies. Accordingly, the four heroes can
appropriately be categorised, according to Frye's theoretical construct
as leaders with 'high mimesis' but who could not compete their
environment. As human beings they also had character flaws and
weaknessess.
The four heroes met their death as was fated. El Cid died at the
age of 56 years old and was unfortunate that he could not see the
teritories that were once under the Islamic influence falling back into
their hand. Roland too met his death tragically but not due to wounds
of battle when he encountered an ambush; instead, his head blew up
when he tried to blow his trumpet for help; and this was done as a last
resort and self-sacrifice for the sake of saving his nation's good name.
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Comparative literature