1

AN INTRODUCTION TO MYTHOVERVIEW

An Introduction to Myth is a one-semester Language Arts elective

course for eleventh and twelfth grade students with average and

above reading skills, and meets requirements for one Language Arts

credit. The course examines the nature of myths, *some aspects of

familiar myth systems, and the importance of myth in history as well

as in contemporary society.

The course addresses Language Arts goals A, B, C, D, E, and G.

Prerequisite: 11th or 12th grade standing.

*A myth is a dramatic story widely known by the people of a societyand often repeated. The stories often involve extraordinary beings orcreatures with superhuman powers. The stories usually confirm theinstitutions, beliefs and customs of the society that tells them orattempt to explain how something began or some other mystery ofthe universe.

(Ralph Patai and Robert Graves, Hebrew Myths)

Adopted by the Renton School BoardJune 25, 1981

2

AN INTRODUCTION TO MYTHMAJOR COURSE GOALS

1. To explain the origin and need for myths universally.

2. To introduce and/or review some of the major characters and

stories from mythology.

3. To become aware of how successive societies have used

mythology and how the modern age continues to construct

myths.

4. To investigate the universal similarities of myths.

3

AN INTRODUCTION TO MYTHSCOPE

I. Major myth collections-stories and characters

II. Major mythical (archetypal) themes found in literature

The list should be considered informative, rather than restrictive.Also, some themes may be handled collectively as a class; others may serve asindependent projects

A. The hero's quest for his rightful kingdomB. The fall from innocenceC. Fertility; cycles of nature; the human yearD. The paradox of human duality (good-evil; love-hate; emotion-reason; etc.)E. The creation and the golden ageF. World cataclysms or universal annihilationG. The God-TeacherH. MetamorphosisI. The reach beyond the limits of the finite and mortal worldJ. Fulfilling a destiny (the quest to do something that a person must do,

whether he wants to or not)K. The failed questL. The romance hero (the larger-than-life hero's journey and battle)M. The quest for identity ("Who am I?")

III. The universality of mythsIV.

A. Lateral: One myth traced through several myth systems (creation; theflood, etc.)

B. Horizontal: One archetypal theme seen through myths of different timeperiods

V. Modern American mythologyVI.

A. The mythology of the American WestB. The American Mono-myth

1. A community living at peace is threatened by evil2. Normal institutions fail to combat the evil3. A selfless superhero emerges and restores peace and defeats evil4. The superhero then fades back into obscurity

C. Mythology of advertising and the television set

4

AN INTRODUCTION TO MYTH

OBJECTIVES

The intent of instruction is that students will be able to:

1. discover that myths deal with truths of the mind, of our inner selves, evenwhile they might be inaccurate as history or science. (1)

2. identify the primary personalities of classical and Norse mythology. (2)

3. know the primary stories of several myth collections.(2)

4. identify major mythical (archetypal) themes in literature, film andtelevision. (3)

5. demonstrate how the concept of hero has evolved. (3)

6. identify the influence of content and characters of mythology on literatureand other art forms and how it enriches the art form. (3)

7. recognize and use allusions and word derivations from characters,situations, and places of mythology. (3)

8. understand the omnipresence of myth and the vitality of myth today.

9. trace the archetypal quest by citing similarities in two myths of differenttime periods (e.g. Odysseus and Sir Gawain or Arthur or Herlihy'sMidnight Cowboy). (4)

10. infer the values of a culture through evidence from its mythology. (3)

11. Write a narrative, dialogue, scenario, or poem which contains an elementor elements of archetypal characters, images, or patterns, given a minimaloutline from a scene or event from contemporary life. (1)

5

AN INTRODUCTION TO MYTHINSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Basic Materials

Mythology, Edith Hamilton; New American Library (Mentor), 1969

Introduction to Myth, Peter R. Stillman; Hayden Book Company, Inc., 1977

Supplementary Materials

Myth, Mind and Moment, Edmund J. Farrell, et al.; Scott Foresman andCompany, 1976

Myth and Meaning, James G. Head and Linda MacLea; McDougal, Littelland Company, 1976

Man, the Myth-Maker, W.T. Jewkes and Northrop Frye; Harcourt BraceJovanovich, Inc., 1973

The Perilous Jorney, W.T. Jewkes and Northrop Frye; Harcourt BraceJovanovich, Inc., 1973

The American West on Film: Myth and Reality, Richard A. Maynard;Hayden Book Company, Inc., 1974

The Myth of the Fall: Literature of Innocence and Experience, F. Parvin;Sharpless Hayden Book Company, Inc. 1974

Symbol and Myth in Modern Literature, F. Parvin Sharpless; Hayden BookCompany, Inc., 1976

Myths and Legends:Mirrors of Mankind (sound slide set), Center for theHumanitiesMythology Today, Jeffrey Schrank (sound filmstrips); The Learning SeedCompany, 1979

6

AN INTRODUCTION TO MYTHEVALUATION

Evaluation will measure growth in basic knowledge, application of

techniques and critical thinking as listed in the objectives. Means of

evaluation may include:

1. Participation in large group and small group discussion

2. Homework assignments

3. Quizzes on assigned reading

4. Examinations

5. Written reports on selected readings

6. Projects reflecting readings.