The Induction of an Epiphany

Professor Sexton asked us to reread chapter 7 in The Wind in the Willows and write a working definition of an epiphany using inductive reason. Like Professor Sexton said, inductive reasoning reasons from the specific to the general, which is the exact opposite of deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning begins with making a rule by using a small number of observations. For example if I notice that in the Autumn the leaves fall off of deciduous trees then I can use inductive reasoning to say that every Autumn the leaves on deciduous trees will fall off.

By using the events of chapter 7 we can see that Mole and Rat go on a quest to find Otters missing child, Portly. As they look for Portly, Rat and Mole hear beautiful awe inspiring music. The two animals are filled with extreme bliss and eventually come into contact with the divine being Pan and worship him. Portly is given over to Rat and Mole so that he can be returned to Otter and Pan, knowing that Rat and Mole will eventually go mad over their meeting with him, allows them to forget their encounter with the god.

Therefore by using Rat and Mole's encounter with Pan in chapter 7 we can, by using inductive reasoning, make the rule that an epiphany is manifestation of an extremely joyous and emotional occasion of contact with a supernatural being, a god, while on a quest to rescue a lost soul, a child. And as used in chapter 7 an epiphany is also being given the gift forgetting the experience due to the benevolence of a god after being worshiped.