Is life a "tale told by an idiot"-a tale of chance and accident-or is it a meaningful story about purpose and destiny? We have seen three films (Grand Canyon, Ground Hog Day, and Dickens' Christmas Carol) and read three stories that deal with the mystery of chance and human destiny. Compare and contrast these three films and their accompanying stories-the stories of Gilgamesh, Buddha, and Augustine. How does each film illustrate fundamental truths about human destiny as understood by their accompanying story? What are the contrasting visions of human destiny expressed in these stories and films? (Ask yourself what metaphors are used, how is the problem of life perceived and how is it resolved, etc.?) Where do they agree and where do they disagree? Do you find one story more suitable for expressing the mystery of human destiny than another? If so, why? If not, why not? (You may find it useful to draw on the four types of myth outlined in the Perspectives on World Religions Chart, although this is not required. You may also include comments on the Buddhism, Man, and Nature film if you wish.)