Understanding the Cultural Value of Ravens Through Literature, Essay Example

Ravens, also known as “the black bird” is specifically noted as one of the most common elements of ancient culture that literary works define as something that pictures evil conditions. So far, in many cultures around the globe, the raven is noted to symbolize several points of black magic. Considerably, this is what Sax Boria pointed out in his written work on Medievalism, Paganism, and the Tower Ravens. Relatively, this work provides a specific picture on how ravens used to be the epitome of evil power in the medieval times and how this idea affected the thinking of the people towards the value of the said bird. In his writing he tries to outline the different points of proof that gives a specific identification on who and what ravens really are. Giving particular descriptions on the raven’s specific physical characteristics, he points out how the raven was able to make a name in the face of classic and modern literature especially when it comes to making a good definition on what evil is and how its power could rule over what is good. Often used to be the opposite of “dove” which is white in nature and often symbolizes peace and meekness, the raven is seen to have a great condition of going against what is specifically righteous.

Another supporting literary work from Boria that is considered to provide a good definition of what ravens are and how they impact human culture of the classical times is that of the written research on The Tower Ravens: Invented Tradition, Fakelore, or Modern Myth. This work explores other cultures that support the first written work of Boria hence creating a more definite course of understanding regarding the bird, its natural nature and how the humans began interpreting its physical and behavioral characteristics often relating them to humans. Clark’s (1953) written work on Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest supports the presentation of the same idea through taking another route of culture development regarding the human population’s interpretation of the bird’s being.

References

Boria Sax, “Medievalism, Paganism, and the Tower Ravens,” The Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies 9, no. 1 (2007), pp. 71-73.

Boria, Sax. “The Tower Ravens: Invented Tradition, Fakelore, or Modern Myth.” Storytelling, Self, and Society 6, no. 3 (2010): p. 234.

Clark, Ella E.: Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest, University of California Press, 1953.