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The tradition of oral poetry is shared amongst many ancient cultures, traditions and language families. While there are many similarities, both in the mechanics and the subject matter of these ancient texts, some of the more subtle differences can be extremely enlightening given their significance in understanding the uniqueness of each individual culture and tradition they evolved out of. The Kalevala is a perfect example of how subtle differences in ancient textscan enlighten our understanding of the uniqueness of an ancient culture. This article examines the specific and unique understanding The Kalevala imparts to our Western Tradition.

This article discusses the similarities between Gilgamesh and the Biblical Flood account found in the Book of Genesis. Rather than taking one of the traditional positions on the relationship between the two texts, this article attempts to change our attitude about how we react when discussing the Bible in connection with other works in order to foster a healthier and more open environment for discussion of ancient texts and criticism.

Given the status of the Bible in the western literary tradition as one of the most appropriated and alluded to of all ancient and religious texts, it is not unusual that William Blake writes so extensively about it. While a great body of Blake's mature works, including the longer works "Milton" and "Jerusalem," deal with biblical themes, his early central work, 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," gives insight not only into themes that would later occupy Blake's longer works, but also into the unique status of the Bible in western literature