Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

209485

Animal as hero

narrative dynamics of alterity and answerability in the elephant stories of Aithihyamala

pp. 121-133

Abstract

This study examines the elephant stories in the Malayalam text Aithihyamala (a garland of legends and myths) compiled by Kottarathil Sankunni against the socio-cultural scenarios constructed around elephants in the textual and ritual traditions of Kerala. The dialogic possibilities embedded in such scenarios and their heteroglossic semantics open up a narrative—performative interface involving the divine, the human and the animal. The divine, the human and the animal in Aithihyamala stories are emplotted in a discursive web of relationality and answerability. Sankunni associates hyperbolic narrative tropes of miracles and extraordinary heroic feats to the stories of the elephant. The animal-protagonist becomes pivotal to the events and actions in the elephant stories. The paper is divided into two sections. The first part contextualizes Aithihyamala and reads into the rich dialogic connections it has with diverse cultural and literary domains. The second part explores the possibilities of representing the elephant as a conscious, diligent and emotional being and problematizes simplistic notions of anthropomorphism. The paper argues how the elephant stories may be instrumental in generating affection, compassion and curiosity about the animal-hero, which might, in the long run, result in justice for elephants by creating a sense of answerability in human beings.

Publication details

Published in:

Bandlamudi Lakshmi, Ramakrishnan E. V. (2018) Bakhtinian explorations of Indian culture: pluralism, dogma and dialogue through history. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 121-133

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-6313-8_8

Full citation:

(2018) „Animal as hero: narrative dynamics of alterity and answerability in the elephant stories of Aithihyamala“, In: L. Bandlamudi & E. V. Ramakrishnan (eds.), Bakhtinian explorations of Indian culture, Dordrecht, Springer, 121–133.