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Mythology

Mythology. MYTHOLOGY. M. Strait LA-9. Why study Mythology?. Classical mythology basis for humanist education from late Middle Ages up until today Writers, artists, architects, psychologists etc. incorporate aspects/language of mythology into their crafts

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Mythology

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  1. Mythology MYTHOLOGY M. Strait LA-9

  2. Why study Mythology? • Classical mythology basis for humanist education from late Middle Ages up until today • Writers, artists, architects, psychologists etc. incorporate aspects/language of mythology into their crafts • Keep us from becoming provincial in outlook • We have much more in common than we do in difference

  3. Mythology is part of Folklore Folk-lore divides into: • Folk = people, family, common people • Lore = body of knowledge, traditional, the process or act of teaching; instruction

  4. Mythology is part of Folklore Folklore is defined as: • traditional beliefs, legends, customs of a people

  5. Characteristics of Folklore • Old • Passed down by word of mouth • Several variations • Many authors • Reveals things about people • Entertaining

  6. Types of FolkloreWays people describe and perpetuate their own cultures • Jokes • Beliefs • Customs • Legends • Myths • Games • Crafts

  7. Mythology as part of FolkloreTraditional stories of a people; often about god-like beings…These stories are our search for truths about: • What is the world we live in like? • The natural world: creation, mystery of life (birth, death and in between), mystery of science (how things work) • What are we like? • A specific society • Where do we come from? • Where are we going? • What are our important ideas, beliefs, values?

  8. So, myths are traditional stories of a people; often god-like beingsThese stories are our search for truths about: What is the world we live in like?

  9. Is it true that blondes have more fun?

  10. So, what can we say about myth? • Myths don’t originate with one person • Myths were passed down • Myths change over time

  11. Characteristics of a myth • Must have an audience • Elicit an emotion • Helps people feel part of a community

  12. How are myths different from other literature? * Strangely lacking in voice * Its setting lacks a distinct “when and where”

  13. Magic and miracle are central elements in mythology, not in literature.

  14. Without mythology there could be no literature…….. Northrup Frye writes, “Every society has a verbal culture, which includes ballads, folk songs, folk tales,work songs, legends…as develops, a special group of stories,the stories we call myth, begin to…..

  15. crystallize in the center of this verbal culture. These stories are taken with seriousness by their society, because they express something deep in that society’s beliefs or vision of its situation and destiny. Literature as we know it develops out of a mythical framework.”

  16. Myth-making and myth-telling are basic necessities for any society

  17. Myths are metaphors that stand for things other and greater than themselves • Birth (stork) Garden or water What are metaphors for garden or water?

  18. Societies employ similar archetypes in their stories • ARCHETYPE: BASIC STORY PATTERN

  19. FOUR ARCHETYPES • The Hero Quest • Duality • Fertility • The Fall From Innocence

  20. Hero Quest • Has a noble character • Has a goal • Must leave behind a weakness or flaw • Uncertain of direction

  21. Hero quest (cont’d) May have guide to see what hero cannot Faces danger and loneliness on his journey

  22. Hero quest (cont’d) May have companions, but they don’t share the sense of mission.

  23. Hero Quest… Often lacks the basic necessities for living Comes from an unknown origin

  24. HERO QUEST (CONT’D) Suffers a wound Is tempted by the senses…

  25. Hero Quest… Is tempted to quit…

  26. More on the Hero Quest… The hero descends into darkness and is changed when he returns.

  27. Duality • Duality myths are stories of opposites

  28. Dualities

  29. Many myths symbolize our dualistic aspect by casting them in the role of brother or sisters (sometimes twins)or evenly matched adversaries or strangers who are thrown together by chance

  30. Fall From Innocence • Journey from innocence to experience

  31. Fall from Innocence (cont’d) • We come to realize the consequences of our decisions • To disobey or violate a code is part of growing up

  32. Fertility: Cycles of Nature Attempt to explain the cycles of life and complexities of nature, growth, and death

  33. Fertility includes • Creation • Sacrifice so something can live • Death of old power to make way for new power • Cycles of the year • Cycles of our lives • Events that celebrate cycles of nature

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