SUNDIATA SUMMARY

SUNDIATA: A CHILD

• "'Oh son of misfortune, will you never walk? Through your fault I have just suffered the greatest affront of my life! What have I done, God, for you to punish me in this way?'" (106).
• The mom is growing hopeless as her son is disabled.

THE WALKING STEPS

• "The queen mother had rushed there and when she saw Mari Djata standing up she trembled from head to foot. After recovering his breath Sogolon's son dropped the bar and the crowd stood to one side. His first steps were those of a giant" (108).
• From what the mom has desired greatly, her son is taking his first steps like that of a giant.

MANHOOD OF SUNDIATA

• "As Sundiata grows to manhood, the evil Soumaoro Kanté gains power and conquers many nations. When Sundiata hears that Soumaoro has invaded Mali, he decides to challenge the sorcerer-king and gain control of his rightful kingdom" (109).
• As Sundiata is now a fully grown adult, he will defeat Soumaoro and gain control of his kingdom.

VICTORY AFTER WAR

• "The victory of Krina was dazzling. The remains of Soumaoro's army went to shut themselves up in Sosso. But the empire of Sosso. Was done for. From everywhere around kings sent their submission to Sundiata" (113).
• Victory was served after the war for Sundiata and Soumaoro's army flees back to Sosso.

FAREWELL OF SUNDIATA

• "Sosso vanished from the earth and it was Sundiata, the son of the buffalo, who gave these places over to solitude. After the destruction of Soumaoro's capital the world knew no other master but Sundiata" (114).
• Sundiata has ruled over after the war, but after the destruction of Soumaoro's capital, Sundiata vanished.

An epic hero is defined as a character in a story that possesses certain qualities that make them stand out from the rest of the characters making them the hero of the story. Sundiata is an epic hero because he is a great leader and conquerer who overcame many struggles from his birth to his victory over Soumaoro's and is respected and revered by the people.