The Myth Introduction

Mythology How has mythology influenced our culture? Where do we see it or use it in our everyday lives? Brainstorm How many can you list? ** View “Mythology in Modern Times”-3 min.***

Why do we read myths? To understand the history, culture, rituals, and beliefs of cultures different from our own To discover the commonality of the human experience. For entertainment and guidance To enrich our encounters with art, language, & literature ***View “What is Mythology?”***

Introduction to Mythology The number one rule for reading mythology: Don’t look at myths literally! Myths are metaphorically and symbolically true, but factually and literally false. Myths involve characters and events that represent other ideas Representations of something else/ shadows of these ideas Frost Giants in Norse mythology represent natural disasters that occurred during the Viking Age Pandora represents human curiosity Sirens in the Odyssey?

“A myth raises as many questions as it answers” – Claude Levi-Strauss, French Anthropologist (Not the pants guy!) Mythology is based on second-hand tellings semi-deciphered ancient inscriptions Because of this, mythology varies. One story can be interpreted and told many different ways.

Definitions: Understanding Myths Myths are prose narratives which, in the society in which they are told, are considered to be truthful accounts of what happened in the remote past. Myths can also be called epics. Myths: protagonist is a god/ immortal Epic: protagonist is human/mortal (Often written in poem) Legends are similar to myths, but some elements are true. They are also set in a less-distant time period. Folktales are prose narratives, which are regarded as fiction

Basic Definitions to Understand (and write down!) Archetype:  An original model on which similar things are patterned, namely character types and situations. Polytheism: The belief in more than one god Monotheism: The belief in only one god Pantheon: all the gods of a people or religion collectively Duality: the state of being twofold; necessary opposites Parallel: comparative or similar elements across several components How much value should we put into mythology? View three minutes of TED Talk: Devdutt Pattanaik: East vs. West -- the myths that mystify (0:00- 3:10) What makes up mythology? -The world vs. My world -Every culture trying to understand itself -Different people of the world having a different understanding of the world

My World vs. The World (TED Talk) Subjective Emotional Personal Belief Myth Objective Logical Universal Fact Science

“Culture is a reaction to nature, and this understanding of our ancestors is transmitted generation from generation in the form of stories, symbols and rituals, which are always indifferent to rationality. And so, when you study it, you realize that different people of the world have a different understanding of the world. Different people see things differently -- different viewpoints.”

Questions to ask while reading mythology How and why are beings and natural forces created? What do they represent? How do similar motifs/ideas/ themes take on different meanings in different stories, contexts? What else might this myth explain besides natural events? What can we detect about this culture from reading their myths? What problems in human existence or in the relations of human beings to gods (the divine or the sacred) do you think this myth is grappling with?