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Elements of Myth

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What is mythology?

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What are myths?

Myths are ancient stories about the early history of a people and their explanations of some natural or social phenomenon that typically involve supernatural beings and events.

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What purposes do myths serve?

Then

1. To explain how things came to be

2. To teach lessons or values

3. To unify a group or define a group's identity

4. To explain social or religious rituals

5. To entertain

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Now?

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Why read myths?

  • To understand how society’s structure today is shaped by mythology and history
  • To be culturally literate and perceive deeper levels of meaning (getting global “private jokes” like allusion and symbolism)

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Elements of Myths

  • Some myths address a philosophical or religious or

existential

concern, like:

  • mortality
  • fate
  • the purpose/

meaning of life

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths explain

the universe and

natural phenomenon

and explain nature

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths recount

the adventures of gods,

goddesses, and heroes

(and typically heroes

with divine lineage)

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths

recount adventures

that involve a

seemingly

impossible

challenge or quest.

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths include

prophecies.

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths

include incest.

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths include

elements of deities

who are disguised to

not reveal their true form.

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths include gods

and goddesses who, while

immortal and divine, feel

human emotions, and

have human characteristics

and flaws.

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths involve gods, goddesses, and heroes that are superhuman in strength, size, skill, and/or power.

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths include supernatural beings such as monsters, demons, and fanciful creatures

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths include elements of magic/unexplainable phenomenon.

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths include familicide (killing of family members) including prolicide, patricide, matricide, fratricide, and mariticide

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Elements of Myth

  • Some myths include metamorphoses or changes from one form to another

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Comparing Myths

http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/myths.htm