Alexander was the pupil of the great philosopher, Aristotle, who taught his royal pupil something that might have changed the course of history.
Alexander of Macedonia is known as “Alexander the Great” as he extended his empire from Europe to Asia at such a young age.
At mere 32, Alexander defeated Persia and established his reign over the Middle East, the then center of the civilizations.
Aristotle, who was the teacher of the great conqueror, was a decisive force in making Alexander for what he is famous for today.
Do you know what Aristotle taught Alexander?
Aristotle told Alexander a fable of the war of Troy. The story is an extraction of human emotions as it involves love, hatred, tragedy, and the achievement as well as the failures of man.
Iliad is a tragedy that helped Alexander inculcate the spirit of victory in Alexander’s heart. From the war of Troy, Alexander learned the war strategies and eventually overpowered around half of the known world.
Significance of Story-telling
Stories and fables are embedded in our culture and society. From East to West, and from North to South, the development of civilizations has coincided with the story-telling.
Each story incorporates a specific lesson. Besides, the words help sketching the time in which they were uttered or written, by which the posterity could learn the customs and other information about those times.
Aristotle believed that stories, fables, and literature not only amuse people but also help them teach lessons of humanity. For instance, poetry also helps explain human emotions in the most effective way.
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Whether they are stories or poetry, they are all part of human history. Although the concept of heaven and hell is purely religious, Dante explained it magnificently in his “Divine Comedy”.
Inventions of Paper and Printing Press
When man began to write, he would reflect his thoughts on tree barks, and leaves, and stones. But the invention of paper revolutionized the concept of reading and writing.
The invention of paper ensured the protection of literature; later, the printing press ensured the provision of the literature to every house.
With increased technology, access to literature and books increased subsequently. The ever-growing tendency of seeking knowledge complemented this trend. With the growing readership, stories were now written more abundantly.
Today, we are living in the age of the internet. The literature of the whole world is just a click away. Though the online availability of everything has affected the publication of books, it has not mitigated the love for story-telling.
Whether people are not frequently seen reading books in their hands, all of them have the gadgets through which they can read and listen to the stories. So, maybe we are ushering into a new beginning of literature in this digital world.
No matter how much change has come, but the story-telling and fables will be told and will find the eager ear!
