COMPARATIVE LITERATURE STUDY OF MOTIF DIFFERENCES IN RAGNAROK AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Received:2020-02-20 Accepted:2020-03-11 Published:2020-03-15 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33019/lire.v3 i2.61 This research aims to formulate the similarities and the differences of the death motif employed in Ragnarok and the Book of Revelation. Both of these stories use the same motif of death but with different portrayal and explanation of the death. These two stories have a paradoxical difference that needs to be addressed. This study will answer the research gap found in previous intertextual studies. The data used in this research are Ragnarok in the epic poem Voluspa and the Book of Revelation in the Bible. This research utilizes qualitative descriptive method and the theory of Genetic Structuralism to dissect the data. The findings show that even though the death motifs are prevalent in these two works, the themes riding the motifs are different. This happens because of the different collective subjects and the world views in which the works are created.

. They have argued that Voluspa was heavily influenced by the Bible. Hultgard further adds that The Voluspa is a product of syncretism between Christianity and the old belief of the Viking paganism (1990). However, although the similarities of both stories are remarkable, the impressions upon reading both works are different; Ragnarok gives an impression of a gruesome battle of the gods while The Book of Revelation gives an impression of cataclysm. Although intertextual analysis can give a good comparison of these two literary pieces, the dissection of death motif can give a deeper explanation of the works and answer the paradoxical differences at hand.
Ragnarok and Book of Revelation both employ the death motif in their stories. Ragnarok is a term from Viking. Ragnarok is written in the Voluspa, an old epic poem from Viking, while the Book of Revelation is the last book in the Bible, the holy book of Christianity. These two works have different cultural background and language. These two literary pieces tells about the chronicle of the apocalypse at the end of the world. Ragnarok utilizes and incorporates the death motif in the final battle between the gods and their adversaries. The death of the gods has major implications on the narrative. On the other hand, the Book of Revelation makes use of it in the form of punishment and judgment. Every judgment befalls on the world will bring about death to the world and its inhabitants. Although these two stories have the same motif and a similar narrative, the difference in the portrayal of the death has certain implications that their meaning also differ from one another. These implications suggest that their difference could very well be rooted in their socio-cultural context. Therefore, the theory of genetic structuralism that analyzes both the intrinsic and extrinsic elements of a literary work is suitable to be applied in this research.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Lucien Goldmann (1981) proposes a theory called Genetic Structuralism, which is a method of analyzing literary works dialectically by examining the relation between the structure and history. This theory is based on the three tenets of fundamental characteristics of human action; they are (1.) the tendency of fitting the realities to their respective environment and its characteristic through cognitive coherence and, thus, making it indispensable (2.) the tendency of creating structural forms which have consistent pattern out of its units (3.) the tendency to modify and develop the structure of which it materializes a unit.
In addition to the three tenets that he proposes, Lucien Goldmann also introduces several different concepts in the theory. There are six concepts constructing the theory. Those concepts are human facts, collective subject, structure of literary works, world vision or view (vision du monde), understanding, and explanations (Faruk, 1999). These concepts are based on the understanding that literary works cannot be understood by itself, but rather connecting it to the extrinsic value.
Human facts are the result of all human behavior, either verbal or physical action. Those facts can manifest into, but not limited to, social activities, political activities, or cultural creations such as philosophy, art, craftsmanship (Faruk, 1999). Human facts are structure full of meaning and importance. Therefore, human facts have an impact to alter the world to achieve a better balance between the subjects and the environment (Goldmann, 1981).
The second concepts that Goldman explains is about collective subject. Collective subject is a group of individuals who share similar cultures, purposes, lifestyles, and views of life. In other words, Collective subject is trans-individual with social facts (Nurhasanah, 2015). Faruk (1999) also adds that subject collective may be form in familial group, working colleagues, territorial group. Based on this explanation, collective subject is essentially social creatures who live under the same rules, norms, or customs. Third concept in genetic structuralism is called the structures of literary works. The structure of literary works is a crucial element in the literary works itself. The structure is built upon the world vision of a social group. The structure of the literary works to make a thematic unity and coherence based upon the view of the author on a particular social group (Faruk, 1999).
The fourth concept explained by Goldman is about the world vision (vision du monde). World vision is an understanding of the world in its totality with regard to its complexity and its entirety (Goldmann, 1981). That is to say, a world vision is an idea held by particular social group in their effort to make grasp of the reality. Goldman (1981) adds that world vision is not empirical facts but rather a structure of ideas, aspirations, and feelings that embrace a social group. This world vision will manifest in the literary work because an author is a part of a particular social group.
The fifth and the sixth concepts are the dialectic between understanding and explanation.
Goldman states that understanding means describing the structure and explanation means to incorporate those things in much bigger structure (Faruk, 2012). Goldmann also stated that world vision cannot be understood without an attempt of learning the whole and the whole can only be figured out by thoroughly comprehending the part of the whole. According to Goldman (1981), these dialectical processes are the way of truly examining literary works.
There have been previous intertextual studies comparing the Voluspa and the Bible. These studies conducted have said that the the Voluspa and Ragnarok are the transformation text of the Bible. They argue that the several elements from Christianity are carried over to the paganism belief of the Viking and this is reflected in the Voluspa poem (Wachoka,2012;Hultgard, 1990;McKinnel, 2008). However, these studies do not answer the paradoxical differences that arise between the two works regarding the motif and their themes.
There are also studies that research the two pieces of work individually and separately which will be helpful in interpreting the stories. Several studies that are related to this research are the studies concerning the Viking mythology and the Norse pantheon (Winterbourne, 2004;McCoy, 2016). They also argue that the belief system of the Viking mythology recorded in the view. There are also researches conducted to analyze the Book of Revelation that aid this study (Horrell, 2015;Slater, 2019). These studies provide the insight and the understanding of the apocalypse story.

METHODOLOGY
Comparative Literature is the framework of this research. Bassnett (1993) says that comparative literature is a methodology in literary criticism that was created to deal with a world in which there are ideas that are transforming. This method goes beyond the boundaries of era, genre, form, and field (Stallknecht & Frenz, 1961). This comparative literature method is very appropriate to dissect the two literary works that have been described above. Even though Ragnarok and the Book of Revelation were created from two different languages and cultures, there are similarities in the narrative. From the explanation presented in the background, it can be seen that the two stories have the same motif that is the motif for death. Therefore, the assessment will be carried out using an assessment of the death motif contained therein.
The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative method by utilizing the concepts of genetic structuralism. Data collection techniques were conducted by (1)

Motif in Ragnarok
The plot in Ragnarok revolves around the motive for death. This motif is very crucial in the development of stories and covers the core patterns of the story. Death here befalls the gods, the world, and all of its contents. However, the story does not end with death. Campbell (1949) states that the story of the apocalypse has a revival or resurrection events at the end of the story.
This also happens in Ragnarok where some of the gods and the contents of the world will be revived at the end of the story. However, the ending of this story is written significantly less in Then arises Hlin's second grief, When Odin goes with the wolf to fight, And the bright slayer of Beli with Surt Then will Frigg's beloved fall. (Thorpe, 2004, p. 14) This stanza tells about Odin's fight with Fenrir, the big wolf. Hlin is the name of the wife of the god Odin; Hlin is also known as Frigg. Odin is the chief god in the Norse pantheon. He is described as a very powerful and wise god. However, even the powerful deity could not avoid his destiny. The first line states that Hlin will fall into extreme sorrow. This implies that Odin lost his battle and fell dead. As stated in the last line that the beloved figure of Frigg would fall.
Fall is a form of expression in the motif for death. Byatt (2011) adds that Odin was already damaged before he went to battle the wolf; he sacrificed one of his eyes to obtain runic powers and knowledge. Therefore, his fall was already predetermined before he even went to the battle.
The same stanza also tells about the battle between bright slayer of Beli which is none other than Freyr, the god of the sun and rain, with the fire giant Surtr. Freyr is one of the most respected and beloved deities in the Norse pantheon because he is the one who gives blessings their bravery and heart enable them to face the death and their deaths are glorified as the result (Winterbourne, 2004, p. 119).

Motif in Book of Revelation
The story in the Book of Revelation begins with warnings of impending disaster. The warning was sent to seven existing churches. The warning tells the people about the tests that they will undergo. For those who cannot pass the test given to them, they will get a death sentence.
Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Both verses above state the warnings and the commands to repent must be carried out by followers of the church. For those who do not want to obey they will get darkness (removal of lamp stand from its place) and for those who obey, they will get blessings from the tree of life.
These warnings are also found in the following verses such as those who idolize money (verse The judgment that brought death on earth began with the blowing of seven trumpets. Each of these trumpets would bring death and disaster on earth. The first trumpet would bring hail and fire and burn a third of the trees in the world (8: 6-7). The second trumpet called for a large meteor that hits the sea and kills one third of the population in the ocean (8: 8-9). The third trumpet would bring a stone that falls from the sky and poison a third of the entire rivers and body of water (8: 10-11). The fourth trumpet would "turn off" one third of the light held by the sun, moon and stars (8: 12-13). The fifth trumpet would call grasshoppers that will eat people who are not followers of God (9: 4). The sixth trumpet would bring armies that will kill people Lucien Goldmann (1981) in his theory of genetic structuralism explains the concept of the collective subject. Collective subject means designation for social groups that have the same culture, goals, lifestyle, and outlook on life (Goldmann, 1981). The Vikings believe that Valhalla is a concept of heaven where they are free to wage battle and fight every day. This indicates that the Vikings are a nation that values war and combat as sacred. Another thing to note is that they believe that those who are entitled to enter Valhalla are those who died in battle. The concept of belief certainly implies that death in battle is a sacred and high position.
It is by the battle that they can prove their bravery, prove that they are warriors, and receive the highest fame (Winterbourne, 2014). This belief is reflected in Voluspa's work where the gods will ultimately get the highest favor in their lives by dying on the battlefield. This is different from the understanding in the Book of Revelation because the collective subject of the Book of Revelation is Christians.
The Book of Revelation regards the concept of death as horrifying. Death is symbolized as torture and punishment. Death will come to those who do not obey the commandments mentioned in the earlier verses. This concept is in line with Christian religious beliefs.
Christians believe in eternal death and eternal torment will be inflicted on those who do not obey God's commands. Thus, their beliefs are also reflected in literary works that show the concept of death as a punishment and judgment.
Lucien Goldman (1981) says that the structure of literary works is developed by the world vision of a social group. World vision is an ideology belonging to certain social groups about the world that can crystallize in literary or philosophical works. This world vision is crystallized in two stories of Ragnarok and the Book of Revelation. The Vikings have a view of the reality that war is their identity and death is a gift. Garini (2017) argues that death and suicide in western view is regarded as a great loss and unbearable burden. However, that does not seem to be case here. Death in Viking culture is considered as the highest honor and gift that they may get. This fondness for war is portrayed in their literary work. This is different from the Book of Revelation which has a world view that is based on Christian teachings. Christian teaching has the concept that eternal death is a punishment that will be received by those who disobey the commandments from God. Therefore, death in this work is described as punishment according to the world vision they believe in.
The difference in the world view results in the difference concept of death. While Ragnarok is created under the belief of paganism, the Book of Revelation is written on monotheism belief.
This also creates a difference on which entity meet the death. In Ragnarok, the gods meet their demise and die which is crucial to their belief of fatalism (Winterbourne, 2014). However, none of the death in the Book of Revelation is telling the death of the God; it is just the world and its inhabitants. Subsequently, the world and his faithful followers will be resurrected by the God's will as He envisions it to be. Monotheism religions believe that God is immortal and cannot die unlike paganism who believes that gods are human-like divine beings. McCoy (2016) has stated that the Ragnarok has received influences from the Judeo-Christian tradition which makes Ragnarok has a rebirth element in the end of the story. This is contradictory to fatalistic belief that the Viking people. Thus, it can be said that Ragnarok is an amalgam of the two works while still pertains the majority of the world view of the Viking.

CONCLUSION
Both Ragnarok and Revelation have the same motif. However, this does not automatically indicate that the themes and messages they carry are the same. This can be seen from the two fundamental differences between the meaning of death in Ragnarok and the Book of Revelation. One work conveys that death is an achievement and other work gives the message that death is a horrifying event.
The difference in the meaning of death that exists within the same motif is based on differences These findings have shown that despite the intertextual relation between these two works are remarkably profound; each story has its own individual characteristic and understanding based on the belief and the culture on which they stand. Conceivably, additional researches can be conducted to scrutinize how the different belief system of paganism and monotheism are reflected in these stories.