The Second Prompt

            Foster is making a very grand assertion when he states that all stories belong to “one big story.”  What he is telling the reader is that all forms of art and spoken word are collectively one large history of human consciousness.  Every book bears some connection to every other book, whether if it is by what the author chooses to do or chooses not to do, because even subconsciously, authors draw upon works they have encountered and those works draw upon even more works.  It is a perpetual stream of ideas and creativity that builds on the ideas and creativity that came before it, hence the connection to the quote, “There is nothing new under the sun.”
            This enriches the reading experience by allowing readers to look through a broader scope and see the ideas behind the ideas.  It gives a deeper understanding of what is being said.  For example, it is no secret that most modern fantasy epics take heavy inspiration from Lord of the Rings.  Taking a look into Lord of the Rings, there is a mish-mash of European folklore and mythology designed to function as symbols for the industrial revolution.  George R.R. Martin, when writing his series A Song of Ice and Fire (later to be adapted into the TV show Game of Thrones) decided to take elements of Lord of the Rings but wanted to focus more on the cutthroat politics of such a fantastical setting.  Therefore, readers who understand the “one big story” concept know to look not only for potential connections to Tolkien’s work, but also for the Norse and Germanic mythology that inspired Tolkien’s world. 

            Art in general has also expressed this concept.  Music is one form that shows this very clearly.  Metal bands, such as Metallica, have been inspired by rock n’ roll artists, like Elvis, who has been inspired by blues bands.  I’m sure with enough time and effort, the trail of inspiration would lead all the way back to the dawn of recorded history.  Keys, riffs, chords, harmonies, and all other elements of music are adapted from other musical works in the same way concepts, structures, archetypes, and symbols are adapted from other literary works.

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