Briefly recount the “rags-to-riches” story of Akkadian ruler Sargon I. Then, describe a similar “rags-to-riches” story from a different culture with which you are familiar, and suggest reasons this particular narrative genre has such staying

Question

power.

Please provide the best answer for the statement.

Answer 1

1. Students should describe the story of Sargon I: As depicted on surviving clay tablets, Sargon was an illegitimate child whose mother deposited him in the Euphrates River in a basket. There, a man named Akki (after whom Akkad itself is named) found him while drawing water from the river and raised him as his own son.
2. Students should describe a similar “rags-to-riches” story of their choice. Examples might include Moses, Oedipus, Superman, David Copperfield, or even the life stories of contemporary historical figures such as Steve Jobs.
3. Students should speculate on the reasons that these myths (humble beginnings and, specifically, orphanhood at the start, eventually leading to great good fortune) persist across cultures and time periods.