#_____Name: ______Quiz:____

Definition of topic: “in and particularly , a metanarrative (from metagrand ) is an abstract that is thought to be a comprehensive of historical or . According to John Stephens it "is a global or totalizing cultural narrative which orders and explains knowledge and experience" The prefix meta- means "beyond" and is here used to mean "about", and narrative is a story constructed in a sequential fashion. Therefore, a metanarrative is a story about a story, encompassing and explaining other "little stories" within totalizing schemes. In postmodern , a metanarrative is an untold story that unifies and totalizes the world, and justifies a 's power structures. Examples of these stories are , , and science, to name a few. Metanarratives are not usually told outright, but are reinforced by other more specific told within the culture. In the case of , the school Nativity is a good example of this.” (Wikipedia; metanarrative).

Seven metanarrative schemes will be sketched on the doc camera or whiteboard. The following are commented upon and you can use the space here for comments:

Cyclical: Hindu; Buddhist; Yugas and the Days of Brahman

Hesiod’s Five Ages (ca: 750 BCE; Greek, philosophical)

Salvation , Jewish, Christian, Islamic (from creation to eschaton)

USA: Manifest (1776-present)

Scientific (15 billion years ago to present)

Personal (for Dr. Kenney, 1950 to present)

Millenarian

Reflections: In light of the presentation on metanarratives, what do you think? What metanarrative makes the most sense to you, if any? What metanarrative(s) are evident in our textbook? Is any one metanarrative promoted over another? Explain: