Quick Word Quick Word ononMythologyMythology

Mr. MocciaMr. Moccia’’s s

English I: English I:

Honors/Pre-IBHonors/Pre-IB

Defining MythologyDefining Mythology

OED (a great source!)OED (a great source!) a. A traditional story, typically involving a. A traditional story, typically involving

supernatural beings or forces or supernatural beings or forces or creatures, which embodies and provides creatures, which embodies and provides an explanation or justification for an explanation or justification for something such as the early history of a something such as the early history of a society, a religious belief or ritual, or a society, a religious belief or ritual, or a natural phenomenon natural phenomenon

b. As a mass noun: such stories b. As a mass noun: such stories collectively or as a genre collectively or as a genre

Defining some more…Defining some more…

Also from the OED…Also from the OED… A widespread but untrue or erroneous A widespread but untrue or erroneous

story or belief story or belief A popular conception of a person or thing A popular conception of a person or thing

which exaggerates or idealizes the truth which exaggerates or idealizes the truth Although these last two definitions are Although these last two definitions are

important to know and will be important to know and will be discussed, the former definition is the discussed, the former definition is the one that will be used in classone that will be used in class

Why do myths exist?Why do myths exist? To explain the To explain the

inexplicableinexplicable Myths often use the Myths often use the

supernatural to interpret supernatural to interpret

natural events and to natural events and to

explain the nature of the explain the nature of the

universe and humanityuniverse and humanity

Myths usually express the Myths usually express the values and/or beliefs of values and/or beliefs of the cultural system from the cultural system from which they camewhich they came

What myths are not…What myths are not…

LegendsLegends stories about the (usually more recent) stories about the (usually more recent)

past, which generally include, or are past, which generally include, or are based on, some historical events based on, some historical events

Fairy TalesFairy Tales focused on human heroes; stories which focused on human heroes; stories which

lack any definite historical setting and lack any definite historical setting and often include such things as fairies, often include such things as fairies, witches, a fairy guide and animal witches, a fairy guide and animal characters.characters.

Types of MythsTypes of Myths

Creation mythsCreation myths: describes how the : describes how the world or universe came into being world or universe came into being

Origin mythsOrigin myths (aetiologies): describe (aetiologies): describe the beginnings of a custom, name or the beginnings of a custom, name or object object

Ritual mythsRitual myths: explain the : explain the performance of certain religious performance of certain religious practices or patterns and associated practices or patterns and associated with temples or centers of worship with temples or centers of worship

Types, continuedTypes, continued Eschatological mythsEschatological myths: stories which : stories which

describe catastrophic ends to the present describe catastrophic ends to the present world orderworld order

Social mythsSocial myths: reinforce : reinforce or defend current social or defend current social values or practices values or practices Trickster mythTrickster myth: concerns: concerns itself with the pranks oritself with the pranks or tricks played by gods or tricks played by gods or heroesheroes

Interpreting MythsInterpreting Myths

Many different ways throughout historyMany different ways throughout history Jung:Jung:

tried to understand the psychology behind tried to understand the psychology behind world myths. Jung argued that the gods of world myths. Jung argued that the gods of mythology are not material beings, but mythology are not material beings, but archetypes — or mental states and moods — that all humans can feel, share, and experience. He and his adherents believe archetypes directly affect our subconscious perceptions and way of understanding

Myth as form of TruthMyth as form of Truth

Lewis and Tolkien believed in myths Lewis and Tolkien believed in myths as expressing Truthas expressing Truth

Why do we study myths?Why do we study myths?

To understand historyTo understand history To understand our cultural heritageTo understand our cultural heritage To understand the symbolism, To understand the symbolism,

language, references, and much more language, references, and much more that you will see throughout your that you will see throughout your educational lives – and beyondeducational lives – and beyond

To establish your foundational To establish your foundational knowledge, upon which everything knowledge, upon which everything else will rest more solidly else will rest more solidly

AllusionsAllusions

Allusion: “An implied or indirect Allusion: “An implied or indirect reference, especially in literature”reference, especially in literature”

A lot of important literature, past A lot of important literature, past and current, take their root in and current, take their root in different muthologies. We need to different muthologies. We need to become experts at picking up and become experts at picking up and analyzing these allusions.analyzing these allusions.