...Foundations of Mythology Running Head: Foundations of Mythology Foundations of Mythology Short Answers Christina Wright University of Phoenix World Mythology Dr. Lawton November 2, 2011 Foundations of Mythology Short Answers How is the word myth used popularly? For example, what does the statement, “It’s a myth” mean? In contrast, how is the word myth used in the academic context? After considering the definition in your textbooks and course materials, write a definition in your own words. The word myth is used popularly in stories or tales that have been told over periods of time that are usually not completely true, but are told in way to be believed as true ("The white hat," 2010). The statement, “It’s a myth” means or refers to something that is not fully true, but it is claimed to be true. It’s basically like if some random person was to tell you a story that something happened to them that was seen as farfetched, in reality no one really knows if it actually happened or not. In contrast, the word myth in academic context is used as follows; Myths are ancient narratives that attempt to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions such as: How did the universe and world come to be? How did we come to be here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles as we relate to one another and to the world at large? What should our values be? How should we behave or not behave? What are the consequences of behaving and not behaving in such...
Words: 352 - Pages: 2
...Foundations of Mythology George A Espino HUM/105 January 15, 2016 Beverly Smith Foundations of Mythology Myths are the tales that human beings pass one from one generation to another. The interesting fact is that in the most cultures myths are similar based on concerns and everyday life issues. Myths can be considered as the heritage from our ancestors and the way they understood the cosmos, its fundamental questions. An example of a common myth would be about black cats being evil or will bring bad luck if they cross your path in the wrong direction. Another one would be opening an umbrella indoors. The whole term myth can be used and references to something that is imaginary, false or simply a legend. Over the century people have created a host of myths that permit man to explain the world and understand his own existence through tales and allegories. Each society identifies itself with a creation myth. We continue to create myths today. The main overall idea of what is Mythology, is that they are stories which in symbolic form have encoded in them some of the answers to the great philosophical and religious questions that people have come up with through the ages. Whether strictly science or religiously based, research and studies have shown that an individual, regardless of his or her gender, orientation, skin colour, or national background will have the same mindsets given the same experiences and surroundings. Many ...
Words: 864 - Pages: 4
...Foundations of Mythology K J HUM/105 August 25, 2014 Philip Fasso Foundations of Mythology Over many centuries, the word “myth” is commonly used in stories or tales that are not entirely true, yet it is told in such a way that it seems factual (White Hat, 2014). For example, the statement, “It’s a myth” could mean or refer to something that is claimed to be true, but it is not completely the truth. Basically, it is similar to being told an unbelievable story by a stranger, but in reality no one really knows if it is true or false. In the academic context the word “myth,” in contrast, is considered as an ancient narrative that attempts to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions such as: How did the universe and the world come to be? How did we end up here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles as we relate to one another and to the world at large? What should our values be? How should we behave? What are the consequences of our behavior (Leonard & McClure, 2004)? After considering the definition in my textbooks and course materials, my meaning of a myth would be a hard to believe story that we are uncertain how authentic it is that is usually told either inspire or warn people. The most well-known mythological topics across various cultures are continuity and stability to a culture, guidelines for and explain the purpose of living, justify a culture’s actions, clarify the unexplained, and offer role models. Similar or universal themes...
Words: 917 - Pages: 4
...Foundations of Mythology What are myths? Myths are traditional stories in which may describe the origins of the world and of a people. Myths are an attempt to explain mysteries, supernatural events, and cultural traditions. Sometimes sacred in nature, a myth can involve gods or other creatures. And, a myth represents reality in dramatic ways. Many cultures have their versions of common myths. “Myths... attempt to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions: How did the universe and the world come to be? How did we come to be here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles as we relate to one another and the world at large? What should our values be? How should we behave? How should we not behave? What are the consequences of behaving and not acting in such ways?” (Leonard & McClure, 2004, para 3). The English word “myth” comes from the Greek word mythos and has been esteemed from the Greek word logos, both terms translates into English as word or story (Leonard & McClure, 2004,para 7). People have long wondered how the world came into being. They have answered the question with stories that describe the origin of the universe or the world and usually of human life as well. Myths express people's understanding of the world and their place in it. The world's mythologies and religions offer an immense variety of stories. Scholars have discovered that the different cultures fall into broad categories and contain many shared themes. Myths grant continuity...
Words: 1003 - Pages: 5
...Foundations of Mythology Name Hum/105 May 23, 2015 Professor University of Phoenix “How is the word myth used popularly? For example, what does the statement, It's a myth mean? In contrast, how is the word myth used in the academic context?” (University of Phoenix, 2012). Myths have been around for thousands of years and are typically passed down from one generation to the next generation. There are many reasons for these myths to be passed along through the many generations of a family. Certain types of myths that are passed down through the generations help to tell a story which others wise would be dismissed or forgotten and even to help teach future generations about the family history. Myths that are passed down through the generations have really not evidence or even truth to them myths or fables are sometimes stories that are made up an example; Santa Clause, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Sandman. Many times myths and fables are told to children to get them to behave, scare, or even to get them to use their imagination. Myths or fables are told to help in the explanation for those questions that are difficult to explain the answers too especially to small children that would not be able to fully understand the concept until they are much older. Some questions like where do babies come from? Some parents tell their children about how the stork dropped them off to their mommy and daddy. “Myths are ancient narratives that attempt to answer the enduring and...
Words: 1191 - Pages: 5
...Foundations of Mythology Short Answers Tracey Walker HUM/105- WK1- World Mythology June 5, 2014 Sharon Worley A myth is used popularly when it is used in a story or a fact is a legend. Something that is factually true. A myth "Does my butt look big in these?"( Stan Rogal 2006). The word myth can be used to dismiss another culture or belief if it is truer than another’s. It’s a myth means that, something that people believe to be true but isn’t. Something that people will say when telling and explaining something to you wanting you to believe them and think that it is a true fact. A myth is sometimes used as an explanatory narrative to describe how things mysteriously happen in stories and religions. It somehow explains how the world is how it is. The word myth is used in the academic context in a variety of academic setting; its main purpose is to analyze different cultures and their ways of thinking. Within the academic setting, a myth is known as a true fact and over time has been changed within the society. A definition of myth in my own words would be made up stories that explain the existence of different cultures with different religious beliefs from people. Some myths can be legendary stories or just traditional about an event or super hero. I believe different cultures address similar themes as a way to explain a culture's origin and history. For decades myths have been passed on and have become an integral part of many...
Words: 818 - Pages: 4
...Foundations of Mythology Korinne Spencer Hum/105 12/22/2014 Cynthia Grant Foundations of Mythology Throughout life we have come across the phrase “that’s a myth” and typically when we hear this we know that there may be little to possibly no truth to it, and maybe even a story from ancient history. Myths can range from different meanings based on who is telling the myth, the culture, and much more. Below there will be information that will elaborate on the many questions of what a myth is, how it is relevant in contemporary culture and the many belief systems that follow through with Myths. What Is a Myth? The word myth has been used on this earth for as long as we know, and is a popular word that is used to generally to tell a story, event, history, or even to describe a legend of some sort or time. Although many myths may be imaginary as told, they are most certainly acknowledged. There is no proof to many of the myths but they hold significance to many, and many hold dear to their beliefs regarding the myths regardless of its minimal proof to be a fact or not. There are many stories that are told from different cultures that have continued to be told through time, and depending on our culture, and who told these stories they follow and hold great significance to many and some will believe them and others may not. The Most common mythological themes across different cultures especially the seven major cultural groups Africa, the Americas, Northern Europe, the...
Words: 828 - Pages: 4
...Foundations of Mythology Short Answers Victoria A. Provencal HUM/105 World Mythology Wednesday, May 30, 2012 Dr. Cherie Turpin In reviewing the text and in performing some research the term “myth” can be defined as way to find out answers to questions that one might have. Myths are sort like stories or tales that try to answer a specific question that one might have, but are not necessarily the correct answers. It is a way to open up the question for research/discussion to see exactly what that question might actually mean to humans and becomes a continuation of various responses. According to our text, the term “myth” is defined as ancient narratives that attempt to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions. (Leonard & McClure, 2004) In during further research and reading, I also found that the word itself comes from the Greek “mythos”, which meant speech or discourse, but later became to mean fable or legend. (Mythology. Encyclopedia Mythica. Retrieved May 29, 2012) Myths from different cultures around the world address such similar or universal themes, because they introduce cultural values and behaviors to us, and, also helps us develop intellectual tools that allows us to look and question our own mythic understandings. Studying myths allows us to learn about other cultures and opens up mind to see things differently with our own view. In thinking about how myths explain the unknown and the tribulation of mankind, it is human nature to ask questions...
Words: 562 - Pages: 3
...Foundations of Mythology Oatis Henry HUM 105 April 9, 2015 DR. Sigrid Koepke-Fruend Popularly the word “myth is used to describe urban legends or stories that are not true but told by someone to as if they were true. Academically, the word myth is used to describe ancient narratives that tries to answer human questions such as how the world was created or how the human race what created. The word mythology comes from Greek words such as mythos and logos. Mythology can be described as logical thinking. I would describe myths as an unexplainable or unknown actual event created by individuals to make sense of the unknown such as creation of the universe. Cultures around the world have different myths that all share the basic human desire to understand life and its meaning. Creation is one of the most popular myths that these cultures share. The cultures utilize their surroundings and cultural backgrounds to help the citizens understand the unknown since we all have different backgrounds, it makes sense the stories would differ however, the premise of the story will remain the same. The most unusual creation myth I have come across is the Chinese legend of Pan Gu, Nü Wa and the cosmic egg. While the story is odd for me, it has the overall same purpose as the "big bang theory" or "God created the world in seven days" theory. They all share the same desire to explain the unexplainable. Belief, religion, knowledge, and mythology differ however, they have overlapping characteristics...
Words: 543 - Pages: 3
...Foundations of Mythology Shannon A. Colon Lampley HUM/105 World Mythology Prof. Lester Lopez-Nieves Mythology is an old study, that goes back time and time before, but mythology is not only an old practice, it also shows you a cultural purpose, most about religion or beliefs, that shows a moral and practical lesson. Mythology came to the interpretations of actual historical events, and other different retellings. There are five types of myths, one being theological, another being physical, which is the base of natural laws, animastic that is most defined by concerning soul, material and finally mixed. There are two types of theories, the first being the pre-modern theory and the other being the modern theory, the difference between both theories being that the pre-modern theory is the events of actual historical events, and the modern theory can be founded now in day in video games, movies, and books. In modern day using the term “myth” is becoming more common known more for being more of a lie or truth. The term “it is just a myth” now in days can be related to a fairy tale, folk story or an old wives tale. For example when younger, parents once told the children that when their tooth fell off, it was needed to be put underneath the pillow for that the tooth fairy can take it and leave the child a quarter. In a young age when one is naïve, one tends to believe in those myths, but when older myths tend to be more about storytelling to the younger generation...
Words: 834 - Pages: 4
...Foundations of Mythology Mythology can have different meaning to individuals or groups. It has been this way throughout the ages. Myths can be common across different cultures and places in the world. Myths have a place in religion, knowledge and beliefs and in contemporary society. The word myth is used popularly in stories that have been told over time that are not true, but are told in a way to be believed as true (White Hat, 2014). Today the phrase “It’s a myth” is just another way of saying a story that is told is not true but is said to be true. An example would be the story about my Uncle Kennard Freeman. He died November 21, 1966 in the house I grew up in and still live in today. The story or myth was that he had a heart attack while sitting on the toilet, collapsed and cracked his head open on the old porcelain tub. My sister, myself, several cousins were all told this and believed it for a long time until discussing it with my father and my uncle did have a heart attack but was in his bedroom. The story sort of became an urban legend in our family. In contrast, in academic context, myths are ancient narratives that try to satisfy the persistent and essential questions: How did the universe and the world come to be? How did we come to be here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles are as we relate to one another and to the world at large? What our values should be? How should we behave? What are the consequences of behaving and not behaving...
Words: 864 - Pages: 4
...Foundations of Mythology HUM/105 D. Woodside UoPX By: Kelli Allen November 21, 2015 What are myths? According to our text, "myths are ancient narratives that attempt to answer the enduring and fundamental human operations: How did the universe and the world come to be? How did we come to be here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles as we relate to one another and to the world at large? What should our values be? How should we behave? How should we not behave? What are the consequences of behaving and not behaving in such ways?" Leonard and McLure, (2004) There are many ways that the word myth is used as well as independent definitions and just as many correlations between different cultures for the same myth. Let's look at the foundation of the word myth and all of its implications. The term myth is most popularly used today as something that is false, an untruth if you will – an urban legend; a rumor or a hoax. There are many things here in New Mexico that are considered to be a myth. We are home to thousands of Hispanics. There are many "myths" here in New Mexico about Chupacabras – which are literally translated as "goat-sucker", from chupar ("to suck") and cabra ("goat"). Wikipedia, (2015). We have much livestock here in New Mexico and purportedly, some of them were often times found dead with no blood left and three holes that were punctured in their chests – just one of the stories of this area; and a story that was brought over from...
Words: 1099 - Pages: 5
...Foundations of Mythology Jovon Laurent HUM/105 Feb 2, 2015 Marianne Murawski Foundations of Mythology Merriam-Webster online dictionary (Merriam-Webster mobile search, n.d.) , describes a myth as, “a usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon”. A myth is perceived very differently depending on where a person lives their culture, values and lifestyle. In Western society today the word is popularly used to describe a story or tale that has no authenticity or is not true. Academically, a myth is an effort to answer the questions of human existence (Rosenberg, 2006). Personally speaking, the word myth means an exaggerated story that has been told from generation to generation with no truth to it, but often times sends a very meaningful message or moral that can be used in life. There are many mythological themes that span from culture to culture, but the most common theme is the plot of good versus evil. Different cultures may have different characters, but the plot of the story is always the "good guy" struggling to overcome some kind of obstacle, that will eventually make him a better person, while at the same time fighting against the "bad guy". In the end, the story delivers a message or moral to the readers about life. Across the different cultures, the storyline and the characters may be different, but there is always a moral or...
Words: 825 - Pages: 4
...Foundations of Mythology HUM/105 12/8/2015 Ricky Gonzales * * The word myth is used popularly to describe a fable or legend. However Merriam Webster’s definition of myth is closer to how it is used in academic context. Webster’s defines myth as a traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon. * * In my opinion a myth is a story, legend, narrative, or even a ritual that humans use to attempt to answer things they have yet to understand about the universe or help define our own human behavior. The ancient narratives that we associate with mythology are even today reborn in new retellings of the old stories in the form of movies and new books and other modern remakes. This is because we humans redefine ourselves as a whole, just as we redefine ourselves as individuals. If the entire world were to be decimated today, then hundreds of years from now stories about gods in strange armor flying great airships to distant lands might one day become myth if the understanding of the science of supersonic flight does not make it through the aftermath. * * * Myths address similar or universal themes because it is human nature to attempt to define and understand the world around us. The similarities are due to our innate desire to better understand ourselves. The similarities in creation myths are a great example of this phenomenon. Since...
Words: 766 - Pages: 4
...“Foundations of Mythology” HUM/105 World Mythology November 14, 2012 Las Bases de Mitología Cómo es la palabra mito utilizada realmente? Mitología puede ser los estudios de culturas diferentes, historias, las tradiciones son creencias que uno quizas tenga. Cada individuo y su cultura tienen mitos en sus vidas. El mito en muchos sentidos pertenece a diferentes leyendas que pasaron de generación en generación. El término mitologia puede ser usado de diferentes maneras. El mito es un cuento tradicional o legendario, generalmente con respecto a algunos es o el héroe o el acontecimiento, con o sin una base definible del hecho o una explicación natural, especialmente uno que preocupa por divinidades o demigods y explica alguna práctica, el rito, o el fenómeno de la naturaleza. ¿Por qué dirigen mitos de culturas diferentes alrededor del mundo los temas tan semejantes o universales? Piense acerca de cómo los mitos explican el desconocido y las tribulaciones de la humanidad. Nosotros tendríamos que mirar atras al tiempo como distante nos permite al momento actual en tiempo que nosotros como humanos en cada cultura tienen tan qué misma creencia en un poder más alto y en donde humanos vinieron de, pero de todo tener el mismo resultado final con Dios y algún tipo de humano-es como un profeta. Tal como Jesus, Muhammad, ect ahora los mitos pueden ser cambiado dependiendo...
Words: 605 - Pages: 3
