Mountains+and+Caves

Tyler, Ben, Nick



**Background** From the dawn of time, mountains were a place of mystery and danger due to the relentless animals that inhabit this biome and the merciless weather during the brutal winter months. Snow topped mountain peaks formed the barriers for past civilization, during a time before cars, planes, or other forms of transportation that allowed for effortless travel through or over these majestic land formations. Prior to the eighteenth century, mountains were seen in a drastically different light than they are in the twenty-first century. Few travelers adventured to the mountains for the reasons stated above, they possessed great peril and had a sense of mystery to them. In some cultures, specifically western civilization, the Gods were believed to dwell in these treacherous land masses, particularly on the heavenly peaks. It was considered to be unsafe for mortals to venture among this terrain, as mountains were just obstacles and inconveniences that were anything but favorable. Caves were places of mystery and secrecy. Ancient people feared what hid deep inside the caves, beyond where the outside light could extend. They are often used to describe the darkest, dreariest of places or, as in Prometheus Unbound, “icy caves” or “frozen caves.” As time progressed, people gained a sincere curiosity about caves and they became common symbols for burial sites and hiding places in the Bible. Jesus is buried in a cave and the cave of Adullam, the cave that David fled to, is sometimes alluded to. Another way caves are often looked at is, as explained by Michael Ferber, how they “might also suggest the depth and not just the opacity of thought or perception.” Some sources refer to the human skull itself as a cave and when they do this they are using this symbol of the cave rather than the more ancient symbol of the cave as a dark, cold, and scary place. However, the cave is also used to refer to dim or unenlightened thought rather than depth and genius.

Place in Literature One of the most famous allusions to a cave is that which is found in Plato’s //The Republic//. In this story, Plato describes a cave in which prisoners are held, chained by their necks and legs so that they can not move, facing a wall. On that wall shadows of people walking on a raised walkway behind the prisoners are projected. The prisoners have been chained in the caves all their lives, and have never seen what is outside the cave. The cave in this story represents where most people today are intellectually, only able to see images of the real world. As the prisoners sight is described when Plato writes “To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images,” so too is the vision of people today who do not go past what has already been discovered.

Exploration "They congregated round me; the unstained snowy mountaintop, the glittering pinnacle, the pine woods, and ragged bare ravine, the eagle, soaring amidst the clouds- they all gathered round me and bade me be at peace." //(Frankenstein. Chapter 10, paragraph 1)//

In this sentence, the mountains are more connected with nature as a whole, and represent an overwhelming all powerful entity that are towering above all else, but despite their intimidating physical presence, they are calming to the human soul. Examples  Mountains have a special place in Greek Mythology, as they are the residence of their Gods and Goddesses. The palace of Zeus was believed to be located on the peak of Mount Olympus, where he existed as an all powerful deity. Also living amongst Zeus were eleven other Gods and Goddesses, with the less significant Gods inhabiting the slopes of the mountain. Olympus was formed after the conclusion of the Titan War when the titans were defeated by the Gods, which they inhabited. It also serves as the setting for many Greek mythical stories. Olympus was also resistant to the natural elements, not being shaken by the wind, dampened by the rain, nor touched by snowfall, it was seen a highly reverend mountain top palace only suited for the exalted Gods.

Tip-Offs The character or narrator typically tends to simply describe the setting they are in, and that usually just consist of saying that they are in the mountains. Mountains are not an entity which can be alluded to covertly, as they are easily recognizable to almost anyone. But specific mountains can be alluded to depending on its significance, such as references to Zeus’s palace, which resides on the peak of Mount Olympus. Mountains are not something that can always be directly alluded to in a story, like a work of literature, something related to the mountain in some way must be referenced for the mountain to come in to play.

Works Cited Axen, Gary J. "Mountain." //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 2011. Web. 22 Sept. 2011. "Cave." //Dictionary of Literary Symbols//. Ed. Michael Ferber. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge, 1999. 39-40. //Gale Virtual Reference Library//. Web. 22 Sep. 2011.

Mikalson, Jon D. "Mount Olympus." //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 2011. Web. 22 Sept. 2011.

"Mountain." //Dictionary of Literary Symbols //. Ed. Michael Ferb er. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge, 1999. 129-131. //Gale Virtual Reference Library//. Web. 22 Sep. 2011.

Philips, F. Carter. "Zeus." //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 2011. Web. 22 Sept. 2011.

Plato. //The Republic//. 2nd ed. Trans. Desmond Lee. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1987.

Shelley, Percy. “Prometheus Unbound.” Ed. Jack Lynch. Web. 22 September 2011.