"The Tale of the Corpse"

A "The Tale of the Corpse" is a supernatural story from the Papyrus Westcar (which features themes of walking dead and magical incidents in ancient Egyptian literature).

• Context:
  • It can (typically) serve as an example of Ancient Egyptian Literature.
  • It can (typically) incorporate Supernatural Elements and Magical Themes.
  • It can (often) demonstrate Ancient Egyptian Storytelling techniques.
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  • It can range from being a Literal Translation to being a Free Translation, depending on translation approach.
  • It can range from being an Academic Reading to being a Popular Reading, depending on interpretation style.
  • It can range from being a Historical Analysis to being a Literary Analysis, depending on study focus.
  • ...
  • It can be part of Egyptian Story Collections.
  • It can provide insights into Ancient Egyptian Culture.
  • It can serve as an early example of Supernatural Fiction.
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• Example(s):
  • Ancient Versions, such as:
    • The Original Hieratic Text (c. 2000-1800 BCE), preserved in the Papyrus Westcar.
    • The Berlin Papyrus Collection Version, where the manuscript is currently housed.
  • Modern Translations, such as:
    • The German Translation by Adolf Erman.
    • The English Translation by Miriam Lichtheim.
  • Academic Study Versions, such as:
    • The Annotated Editions with cultural and historical context.
    • The Comparative Analysis Versions examining similar tales.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Historical Chronicles from ancient Egypt, which record actual events.
  • Religious Texts like the Book of the Dead, which serve ritual purposes.
  • Wisdom Literature like The Instructions of Ptahhotep, which focus on moral teachings.
• See: Ancient Egyptian Literature, Supernatural Story, Walking Dead in Literature, Magic in Literature, Papyrus Westcar, Egyptian Story Collection.

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References

2024

• (Various Scholarly Sources, 2024) ⇒ Analysis of Ancient Egyptian literature and the Papyrus Westcar
  • The Tale of the Corpse is one of several stories preserved in the Papyrus Westcar, an ancient Egyptian text dating to approximately 2000-1800 BCE. The tale incorporates supernatural elements, including the concept of a walking dead, and represents an early example of magical narrative in world literature.

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