The Upanishads Literary Elements

A collection of Religious texts, Non-Fiction, Hindu Scriptures.

The texts have been written over the years and it took centuries to complete the scriptures. Initially, they had been passed from one generation to another through oral practices but then they were written down in BC. These scriptures were most probably originated by the early settlers of Northern India.

The narrator of the book is an unknown person and it has been narrated from first person's point of view. The author has propagated the religious views regarding Brahman and Atman.

Religious,Moral, Awakening, Affirming,

The protagonist in the book is someone who performs virtuous deeds and accept the challenges of his life. On the other hand, the antagonist is a person who remain indulged in evil activities and does not recognize his purpose of life.

The major conflict in the book is between a life of piety and a life of sins. A person who do good to others achieves a higher rank and the man who perform evil deeds is reincarnated in unfavorable circumstances.

There is no climax in the book as it is an account of the principles of religion.

The sinful activities foreshadows the worst circumstances of life while the acts of piety foreshadows the blessings.

It has been understated that one should be introspective, contemplative and understand the forces of nature and their effects on the soul. Another understatement in the book is that man should strive to know the unknown. A meaningless life is nothing so a man must possess some aims in his life, which would drive him forward. A man should not be afraid of the challenges of life. The challenges make us appreciate the happy moments of our life. Life is a journey and we are the travelers, we should make this journey a memorable experience.

There are allusions to struggle, aims, dreams, reincarnation, liberation, life, death, good, evil, empathy, jealousy, hatred, transcendentalism, meditation, Buddha, eastern and western religions.

The author has portrayed the images of rebirth and incarnation. According to Hindu religion, a man is born again and again and the cycle of life continues until a man gets rid of this cycle by recognizing the true reality. There are images of Hindu caste systems, meditation, soul and body. The author has also demonstrated the liberation of soul from the body and the transcendence of soul.

There is a paradox in the story of the snake and rope. The traveler thinks of the rope as a snake and screams loudly. The paradox is that it was not the darkness but the anxiety which disillusioned him.

There are certain parallel thoughts between the writers of Upanishads and the western philosophers or religious thinkers. The concept is transcendence of soul, contemplation about the forces of nature

An example of metonymy is a virtuous person who represent all the people who lives a life of piety. An example of synecdoche is 'samsara' which alludes towards the sinful activities of man.

Hate anger, sins, life and death have been personified by the author.