Mythology: “The Beginning” Part 1 of Mythology Unit

1. Mythology: “The Beginning”Part 1 of Mythology Unit Grade 10 Academic GDHS Revised Sept 2013

2. What is Mythology? • Long ago, people had a hard time explaining what was happening around them. • There were no scientists or teachers to explain why things happened - like why we have 4 seasons, for example. • They made up their own stories to explain why and how things worked. • These stories are called MYTHS.

3. Why Study Mythology? • We study mythology because it is the religion, the science, and the literature of people from the past. • Much of what we have produced as a society has roots in mythology (literature, art, politics, dramas, music, tales, etc)

4. Types of Myths • Explanatory Myths: Myths that answer natural questions about natural objects. • Aesthetic Myths: Myths that have no purpose except to entertain.

5. Explanatory Myths • They serve to explain some phenomenon of nature, the origin of man, or customs and institutions of society. • In other words, it explains the “big questions” in life • Ex: Why are there different seasons? Why is the sky blue? How was man created?

6. Explanatory Myths • Note: In mythology, the truths about the facts of the myth are less important than the truth the myth conveys • Ie: the end result is more important than the story of how it got there. • This is why myths have so many variations of the same story

7. Greek gods - Family Tree

8. ZEUS:King of the gods and the sky • Roman name: Jupiter • Symbol: Thunder bolts

9. Poseidon:god of the oceans • Zeus’ brother • Roman Name: Neptune • Symbol: Trident

10. HADES: god of the underworld • Brother of Zeus and Poseidon • Roman Name: Pluto • Symbol: Invisible Helmet

11. HERA: Queen of the gods • Wife of Zeus • Roman Name: Juno • Symbol: Golden Crown

12. HESTIA:goddess of home and hearth • Zeus’ virgin sister • Roman Name: Vesta • Symbol: Hearth, Sacred Fire

13. DEMETER:goddess of grain and harvest • Responsible for the creation of seasons • Also known for fertility • Roman Name: Ceres • Symbol: Rake, wheat

14. ATHENA:goddess of wisdom and law • Daughter of Zeus • Roman Name: Minerva • Symbol: Armor and an Owl

15. APOLLO: god of the sun • Son of Zeus, twin brother of Artemis • Roman Name: Helios • Symbol: Golden Chariot and Harp

16. ARTEMIS:goddess of the hunt and moon • Daughter of Zeus and twin sister of Apollo • Roman Name: Diana • Symbol: Silver bow and arrow

17. APHRODITE:goddess of Beauty and Love • Married HEPHAESTUS • Roman Name: Venus • Symbol: Roses and Doves, clamshells

18. ARES: god of War • Son of Zeus and Hera • Roman Name: Mars • Symbol: Sword and Spear

19. HEPHAESTUS:god of fire and forge • Son of Hera • Fatherless • Roman Name: Vulcan • Symbol: Anvil and Hammer

20. HERMES:Messenger of the gods • Son of Zeus • Responsible for guiding souls to the underworld • Roman Name: Mercury • Symbol: Winged Sandals & Helmet

21. Mythology:“Archetypes” Part 2 of Mythology Unit Grade 10 Academic GDHS Revised Sept 2013

22. What is an archetype? • Archetypes are recurring character types (and relationships), and/or patterns of symbols or situations found in the mythology, religion, and stories of all cultures For example: • The questing heroes • Heralds who call them to adventure • Wise old men or women who give them advise or/and magical gifts • Threshold guardians who seem to block their way • Shadowy villains who try to destroy them

23. Carl Jung’s ideas about Archetypes • Just as an individual may possess a personal unconscious, a culture too has a collective unconscious • Fairy tales and myths are like the dreams of an entire culture, springing from the collective unconscious

24. Archetypes and Literature • Carl Jung first applied the term archetype to literature. He recognized that there were universal patterns in all stories and mythologies regardless of culture or historical period. • He believed that part of the human mind contained a collective unconscious shared by all members of the human species, a sort of universal, primal memory.

25. The term archetype can be applied to: • An image • A theme • A symbol • An idea • A character type • A plot pattern

26. Archetypes can be expressed in • Myths • Dreams • Literature • Religions • Fantasies • Folklore

27. Key things to know about archetypes • Archetypes are prototypes • As their name suggests, they derive from associations in our distant past (arche = original or first; type = stamp or model) • They are recurring images, character types, symbols, and story patterns that are structural principles that give literature its unity

28. Archetypes often have heritage so far in the past that we now accept the association without fully realizing the initial connection. • Their presence in literature makes it possible to connect one literary work to another and to literature as a whole

29. The Hero’s Quest • There are 8 stages to the Hero Quest Monomyth • It is visualized as a cycle as opposed to a plot diagram

30. Stage 1: Call to Adventure • The hero is called to adventure by some external event or messenger. The Hero may accept the call willingly or reluctantly.

31. Stage 2: Helper • During the early stages of the journey, the hero will often receive aid from a protective figure. This supernatural helper can take a wide variety of forms, such as a wizard, and old man, a dwarf, a crone, or a fairy godmother.

32. Stage 3: Crossing the “Threshold of Adventure” • Upon reaching the threshold of adventure, the hero must undergo some sort of ordeal in order to pass from the everyday world into the world of adventure. • This trial may be as painless as entering a dark cave or as violent as being swallowed up by a whale. The important feature is the contrast between the familiar world of light and the dark, unknown world of adventure.

33. Stage 4: Tests and Helpers • Tests: The hero travels through the world of adventure where he must undergo a series of tests. These trials are often violent encounters with monsters, sorcerers, warriors, or forces of nature. Each successful test further proves the hero's ability and advances the journey toward its climax. • Helpers: The hero is often accompanied on the journey by a helper who assists in the series of tests and generally serves as a loyal companion. Alternately, the hero may encounter a supernatural helper in the world of adventure who fulfills this function.

34. Stage 5: The Ordeal • Climax/The Final Battle: This is the critical moment in the hero's journey in which there is often a final battle with a monster, wizard, or warrior which facilitates the particular resolution of the adventure.

35. Stage 6: Flight • Flight: After accomplishing the mission, the hero must return to the threshold of adventure and prepare for a return to the everyday world. If the hero has angered the opposing forces by stealing the“elixir” or killing a powerful monster, the return may take the form of a hasty flight.

36. Stage 7: Return • Return: The hero again crosses the“threshold of adventure” and returns to the everyday world of daylight. The return usually takes the form of an awakening, rebirth, resurrection, or a simple emergence from a cave or forest.

37. Stage 8: Elixir • Elixir: The object, knowledge, or blessing that the hero acquired during the adventure is now put to use in the everyday world. Often it has a restorative or healing function, but it also serves to define the hero's role in the society.

38. Example: The Lion King • Remember the beginning of Lion King? Simba's birth is being celebrated. The unusual aspect of his birth is his royal status. His father, Mufasa, is the King of the Jungle. • Simba's father is murdered by Scar, but Simba believes he is responsible for his father’s death…

39. ...which leaves our little hero helpless and forces him to leave his kingdom. Have no fear, however; heroes always return to their land. • Call to Action: Simba initially fights with Nala, but he soon realizes they are old friends. She tells him of Scar's terrible reign, asking that he return to the kingdom to return it to prominence. This begins Simba'squest to gain his father's kingdom back from Scar.

40. Helper: Simba receives help from Rafiki, a medicine man-type character. Rafiki is the supernatural force in The Lion King. He influences Simba and provides him with guidance.

41. Simba is immature at first and unable to be the hero he will eventually become. However, once he realizes Scar must be removed and that he is the only one that can do it, he assumes his proper role as the hero.

42. Helper (supernatural): The spirit of Mufasa, Simba's father, tells Simba to be strong and assume his place on the throne. Simba, who has been reluctant up to this point to return to his kingdom, realizes he has little choice but to avenge his father's murder. • Tests: The hyena’s prove to be quite the challenge to Simba at first. But Simba is determined to achieve success and defeat Scar, and the hyena’s are no match.

43. Ordeal: Simba's descent into "hell" is combined with his defeat of Scar and the hyenas. Remember all the flames in the background as he fights Scar? He symbolically goes where none of the other lions could go in order to help his tribe and prove himself. Simba'sunhealable wound? His past, where his courage failed him and his tribe, will always haunt him.

44. Simba becomes king, earning his elixir (power). He returns the animal kingdom back to normal and the hero quest comes to an end.

45. Creation Myths

46. It’s not all Greek to us • There is only one earth… • So isn’t there onlyone way the earth and mankind was created? • If there are hundreds of thousands of cultures… • With hundreds of thousands of beliefs… • Aren’t hundreds of thousands of cultures incorrectin their beliefs? • Who’s right??

47. It’s not all Greek to us • Although we may never know, it is essential to our understanding of literature, archetypes, patterns, character behaviours, symbols, and themes to study these in more depth and examine our human history. • By examining different cultures and their versions of events, we get an in-depth look at their values, beliefs, intelligence, concerns, fears, afterlife, and mindset. This helps us interpret their literature, which has roots for so much of our own modern art and literature.

48. Creation Myth Research Presentation • Groups or 3-4 • 10-15 minutes • PowerPoint/Prezi Presentation

49. Why are there similar plot events? • Which plot event repeated most? Think about it: • Why has this event been repeated so many times? What is the “cause” of this repetition?

50. Pangaea