IYO what is the greatest story ever told?

Njal's Saga

"I shall tell you the story of William Wallace".

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for real responses and not a bunch of nonsense.

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Empire strikes back

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The Longest Day
The Birth of a Nation
How the West was Won

The Lord of the Rings

The Count of Monte Cristo

Lord of the Rings
Harry Potter

Man walking on the moon.

For me, the greatest story is the Iliad, because within all the play of the gods and mortals... all the pointless slaughter, the two real stories are about what happens within people. First, Achilles, who realizes the consequences of his anger and vanity, and Hector, who knowingly goes to his death, out of duty to his family and people, and to face justice (though he did nothing wrong).

Those two, especially Hector, are what real heroes are made of. Men who are unafraid to look inside themselves and act.

I would not downgrade the Odyssey, as Baloo has, though. The theme that no matter what, you can always return home has a lasting appeal that transcends centuries. Penelope's and Telemachus's loyalty to Odysseus is what every man would want in a wife and son, and Odysseus's cleverness and fortitude set the Western standard for epic heroes. It's true he was delayed, but not of his own accord. The universe was practically arrayed against him. That's what makes the story compelling. No danger or distraction, no matter how deadly, or even seductive, could keep him from returning home. The fact that it took 20 years is a big part of the drama. Would Penelope's loyalty to Odysseus be best demonstrated if the story were 2 years or 20? Would Odysseus wonder if he would still be welcomed in his home if he were gone for only a matter of months, as opposed to decades?

Mass effect

In no particular order:

1. HAMLET--It's Shakespeare's masterpiece and a damn near perfect play.

2. INFERNO-- I teach this as my final unit in Pre-AP English, and I am amazed every time at how much the students relate to it. Dante's design is genius, and even though a present-day structuring of Hell might look a little different, I'm not so sure many changes would be made. Surprisingly modern and more political than religious, it's a brilliant mix of history and literature. I NEVER want a movie adaptation because it would turn into a terrible CGI cheese-fest. No amount of special effects could beat what I have pictured in my mind.

3. TAIN BO CUAILNGE- The best of early Irish literature and a rowdy good time!

4. ANGELA'S ASHES-- I love to read memoirs, and this is my favorite. Heartbreakingly hilarious with one of the best openings in all of bookdom: "When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood."