Who’s the more AMAZING hero? Sundiata, from the book called Sundiata, an Epic of Old Mali is challenging our current

AMAZING hero, Telemachus, from The Odyssey. Who will win the most AMAZING hero award?

By: DARLENE ROLAND and PHOEBE SOROKA

Telemachusvs. Sundiata

Background Information about Sundiata, our

newest heroSundiata is an African epic story from the village of Djeliba Koro in Guinea

The story was passed down through generations through oral tradition

These story tellers were called griots

Griots were used in royal families to preserve traditions

THE PLOT of Sundiata: A Legend of Old Mali

Sundiata was born to an ugly woman with a hunched back named Sologon. She was brought to the king of Mali, King Maghan, and he had to marry her because her son, Sundiata, was prophesied to be a great leader. Maghan’s first wife, Sussouma Bérété, was jealous of Sologon, and ridiculed her and her son constantly. She tried to kill Sundiata, so he and Sologon went into exile. While they were in exile, Sussouma’s son, Dankaran Touman, became “king” of Mali, but the evil king, King Suomaoro of Sosso, sent him into exile and took over Mali. He oppressed the people using the occult and magic. When Sundiata heard of this, he went back to Mali and waged a war against Suomaoro, and defeated him, and became King of Mali.

UNUSUAL Birth Circumstances

TELEMACHUS

…Born to a king

…Father left early in his life

…Tortured by the suitors to his mother

SUNDIATA

…Born to a hunchback and a king

…Couldn’t walk

…Ridiculed constantly

…Prophesied to become a great leader

TELEMACHUS

…Determined to force the suitors from his home

…Determined that his father is alive, and determined to find him

…Given help by Athena

SUNDIATA

…Determined to become a great leader

…Never gave up

…Learned to walk even though he was very weak and did not give up on what was prophesized of him.

Gifted Mentally/Physically

SUNDIATA

…Sent into exile

…Visited other cities

…Found out just how amazing he actually was, found out he had great leadership qualities

…Came back to his own city to save his people

TELEMACHUS

…Told by Athena to go on a journey

…Went to find his father

…Had to get rid of the suitors

Circumstances THROW Hero into the Journey!

Reliance on a HIGHER POWER or Discovery of the POWER Within Himself

SUNDIATA…Sundiata is destined to be a

great, powerful, important man

…Nothing can change a destiny…Witches were consulted to

change the destiny but couldn’t

…Soumodoro used the occult to people and tried to defend himself using that when Sundiata waged a war against him.

TELEMACHUS…Relied on the gods to

help him…Was assisted by Athena

throughout his journey…He discovered that he

was actually a very strong mighty prince and he could defeat the suitors with his father’s help.

SUNDIATA…Dragged a baobab tree

to his mother when he couldn’t walk so they wouldn’t be ridiculed.

…Waged a war against Soumdoro, who used magic and the occult.

…Saved Soumdoro’s people who were being oppressed by this

…He defeated Soumdoro

TELEMACHUS

…Went on a journey to find his father

…Helped kill nearly all the suitors to save his mother

Accomplishing SUPER HUMAN/ COURAGEOUS Deed Benefiting Others.

WHO’S the most AMAZING hero?

Well, both heros have different AMAZING characteristics. This made our decision a tough one. But we have a decision as to who is our most AMAZING hero. And the winner is…oh my goodness! This can’t be! The most AMAZING hero award is TIED! We have two equally AMAZING heros now, and Telemachus is very angry having to share the crown with the rookie, Sundiata. THE END.