...Foundations of Mythology The purpose of this essay is to answer a few short questions concerning the word myth. I will be giving details and definitions in my own words to explain how the word myth is used, common mythological themes, the differences between mythology, religion, and belief, and whether or not I believe if mythology is relevant. The word myth is used popularly to explain or tell a story or legend that is not fully truthful. Portions of the story maybe true but other portions of the story are exaggerated or told in a way that the person understands. Tall tales, fairytales, or urban legends are examples of myths that help explain things to people or children especially in a way they can understand. The statement, “It’s a myth” means that the story is not true, there is little truth in the story, or an explanation of the unknown. For example, as a child many of us are told about the boogey man. He is a mythological creature created to spook or scare children into behaving or to stay away from dangerous places. The boogey man is a common mythological theme told across different cultures. Each culture has a name for the boogey man, such as the Chupacabra, the Lady in Black, Bloody Mary, the Man under the bed, or the most common of all the Devil. The myth of an allege boogey man was created to scare children or bring fear of the unknown. The myth of the boogey man explains to children that there are bad people or places in the world and to be cautious. Another common...
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...Foundations of Mythology Short Answers Cartesha Campbell Hum/105 November 10, 2011 Joni Lawton, Ed. D 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. * * A myth is a culturally important story forming a primary, foundational account of a culture and the individual's role within that culture. A myth commonly explains origins of phenomena; justifies and validates the practices or beliefs of a culture; and reveals the political, moral, or religious values of a culture. Every culture has mythic literature, but the best known are ancient and anonymous tales of gods and other supernatural beings (Magoulick, n.d.). In my opinion a myth is something made up, as in folktale. For example, the Lockness monster is a myth it has never been proven that the creature exist. Folk tales and myths are very much different because folk tales are stories told for entertainment and myths express beliefs held by a culture to be truth. The meaning of “It’s a myth” pertains to when someone is telling a story or symbolizing to relate to truth of the unknown of existence of the world or a higher power. * Why do myths from different cultures around the world address such similar or universal themes? Think about how myths explain the unknown and the tribulations of...
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...ENH251 World Mythology: Lesson 1 Assignments 1 & 2 Due 3/30/2013 Assignment 1 Read the foreword in your textbook on pages 8 and 9. Then, answer the following questions, using three or four sentences. a. As you begin this course, you undoubtedly have an idea of what a “myth” is. Your textbook’s editor, however, tells you that in Campbell’s view, “Any good story . . . can teach us something, but only certain beguiling visions, stories with the power to shape and control our lives, can inspire and, far too often, destroy us.” These “potent timeless tales” are the only ones he would consider true myths. What about these stories do you think would make them potent? What would make them timeless?--Answer below: What makes these stories potent are the lives these people had. Their journeys through trials, love, and adversity that brought them closer to the true understanding of themselves and the world around them. What makes these stories timeless is how they were told and how the characters were portrayed. They stir up something in us that give us a glimpse into ourselves and makes us want to share these stories fro generations to come.b. Campbell also said that, “Every myth . . . is symbolic. Its narratives and images are to be read, therefore, not literally, but as metaphors.” How would you define the difference between reading something literally as opposed to reading it as a metaphor? Then, as an example, explain the following sentence first literally and then metaphorically:...
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...Foundations of Mythology Laura Wunder HUM/105 October 8, 2013 Angelia Young Foundations of Mythology 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. According to Leonard (2004), "Official myths like the Iliad, Odyssey, the Theogony, or the Bhagavad Gita and even the Bible- are inevitably reconstructions from parts of folklore and legend, artistically put together with an eye for drama and meaning. However genuine sagas are, like an individual’s imaginings, so fresh, that they are not recognizable, as a myth or scripture and tend to be fragmentary, somewhat imagistic rather than oral, up-and-coming, proficient of developing various stories at one," (Leonard & McClure, "Chapter One / Robert Ellwood “Real Myths," 2004). Dictionary.com defines myth as a traditional or legendary story ("Myth," 2012). Such legends are used in a theoretical perspective to address that which is real and that which is not. Myths are used throughout all societies through stories and legends, which teach life-lessons. Such stories are a part of the everyday lives of all, through science fiction books and movies, including books about other mystical characters. A number of legendary and traditional examples include St. Nick, Santa Claus, storks...
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...MYTHOLOGY The word myth is used widely by many cultures. Myths can be used for poetry for Irish poets, for example, who use Celtic myths as inspiration. One would use “it’s a myth” to mean a story or urban legend that may be not quite true, but popular belief. In academic context, the word myth is utilized to describe an ancient narrative as an answer to a basic human question. Myths are used to describe origins of people to explain their roots and history. Myths explain why some of our characteristics are the way they are as we trace our heritage through these stories told to us in books or from our elders. They are primarily chronicles of our past as a society that may or may not be statistically true and may not be able to be verified, however they can be used to validate some of our characteristics. Myths can address similar themes from different countries as they tackle moral issues that encompass mankind, such as infidelity, betrayal, honor, bravery, etc. Myths also explain the known, like natural events for instance, rainbows, storms, rain, etc. They similarly describe matters of global importance as the creation of man, how the world was formed or the existence of god. Many cultures tell the same myths but in different ways. They may have different persons in their stories, but are similar in matter. A myth about the creation of man may be told in one way in Egypt and another way in Argentina, however both are describing the same topic. An Irish myth may explain...
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...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...
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...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...
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...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...
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...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...
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...For thousands of years, mythology has provided objects for much of the world’s vast art. Myths and mythological characters have enthused masterpieces of composition, literature, sculpture and architecture. By studying myths, you can study how diverse societies have answered primary questions about the world and the individuals place in it. As individuals, the study of myths shows us how urbanized a meticulous communal system is with the conduct of life. By investigative myths, people can understand the feelings and principles that combine members of society into one group. Comparing the myths of a variety of cultures to determine how they are diverse and how they remind you of one another can also, show understanding on how people behave. For at least 2,000 years, scholars have speculated about how myths began. Some consider myths began as historical events that became unclear with the line of time. Others think myths resulted from an effort to explain natural occurrences that people could not value. Scholars have also urbanized others theories of how myths began. These theories answers all the questions about myths, but each contributes to an understanding of the subject. Today, people have methodical answers theories for many such questions about the world around them, also the usual events in terms of stories about gods, goddesses, and heroes. In the early days each society urbanized its own myths, which played a significant part in the society’s religious life....
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...Foundations of Mythology Mythology is often approached with many questions. For some these questions come with confusing answers that may want to send a person running for the hills. Starting with a simple question such as, what is a myth? Starting with basic questions may ease fears and doubts about studying mythology. This paper will attempt to define a myth and will also look at the similarities between myths and different cultures, the relationship between mythology and religions, and how mythology is relevant in today’s society. Myths Defined When we hear the word myth today it is commonly associated with something false. Often myths are related to stories, fables or tales that are not based on facts but traditions or legends that have been passed on throughout time. A myth is a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without determinable basis or fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite or phenomenon of nature. (“Mythology,” 2009) In an academic context the word myth is defined as narratives with legendary plots and mythic elements, while anthropologists define myths negatively as pre-modern thought patterns. (Tofighian, 2010) Similarities Myths from all different cultures share similar themes such as, what is the purpose of life, how we got here, and why do we behave and act the way we do. Myths were used to explain why people...
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...what you believe. Some of the most common mythological themes that come across the different cultures would be: Arabian, Armenian, Celtic, Christian, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Hindu, Islamic, Japanese, and many more. According to www.bibliotecapleyades.net, it states “there are more than just two types of cultures. There are many more than you can imagine”. People just think there are only a few types of mythology, when different types of cultures have their own style. The relationship between belief, knowledge, mythology, and religion is somewhat tied together. Knowledge is something that consists of acquired information, such as facts, truths, stories, etc. Belief is the assertion that something is true without having necessary proof, evidence, or facts to back it up. A myth is a fictional story, usually with a hero or an event, often used to justify a social instruction. Religion is a social institution of consisting of a number of beliefs and practices concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe. Religion relies on belief and myths to hold the attention. Mythology and religion intersect...
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...Foundation of Mythology Hum/ 105 July 30, 2012 Mr. Gregory Underwood Introduction Myths have been told to people for years for multiple reasons. Some reasons might be to scare an individual from doing something bad as a teaching tool. Myths haven’t been proven to be true as of yet, but such myths such as the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, vampires, The Boogie man have been told to children as a way to either to encourage the holiday spirit or tell bedtime stories. The truth about myths that they are full of fantasy, mystery and an extended imagination that’s meant to fill the vivid imagination for the listener, so what’s the real reason behind myths and its purpose? Short Questions and 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. Myth is used in society as a fantasy punch line as to tell stories with a vivid imagination to entertain people to be encourage to do or not to do something relevant to them. The statement, it’s a myth means, it’s basically a folk tale with a strong imagination of fantasy and fiction with little truth to back it up. How is the word myth used in the academic context? Myths may use stories to attempt to explain the origins of the social order, or to attempt to justify existing social order. After considering the...
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...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...
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...Foundations of Mythology Mike Cunts University of Phoenix HUM/105 December 15, 2012 Alan West Foundations of Mythology Question One Myth is a word used magnanimously with a story. Myth is just that A story with no hard facts but its purpose is to explain the unexplained. Mythology has been around since humans could speak. People had claimed something is a myth; they are referring to something untrue and a fable. Examples of some popular myths are; that sailors were enticed by beautiful mermaids; beware of great creatures of the seas if they angered the gods. Mythology goes hand-in-hand with the word “mystery”. “Myths are ancient narratives that 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?” (Leonard, & McClure, 2004, p. 1). In academia, myth is not defined but used as distinctive history of types of people and groups, with written context reminiscent of past events for the those logic cannot explain. Question Two There are different myths with many groups and cultures. Below are some examples that will describe various culture aspects. Myths help man to make order out of chaos or explain things that he cannot understand. Often, myths are based on ideas that affect human beings, regardless of geography or race. Themes like life and death, fear and anxiety, good and evil, and the perennial question of "Why am I here? " ("The impact of," 2013, p. 1). Myths have...
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