CHARACTERISTICS OF A MYTH

GRADE 6 LAE

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

A MYTH MAY BE CENTERED AROUND A

PARTICULAR CULTURE’S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ABOUT

CREATION, DEATH, GODS OR GODESSES, AND SOULS.Why is

it important to stress A PARTICULAR CULTURE?

VALUESWhat is good or evil; What is worth striving for. Values

are what would be most important or

valued to a group of people.

EXPLANATIONS OF NATURESOME CULTURES USE MYTHS AS A WAY OF

EXPLAINING THE UNEXPLAINABLE. TODAY WE HAVE SCIENCE. MANY MOONS AGO PEOPLE RELIED ON STORIES TO EXPLAIN THESE EVENTS. EXAMPLES: WHY SEASONS CHANGE, WHY THERE IS THUNDER,

OR WHY THE TIGER HAS STRIPES!

SUPERNATURAL ELEMENTSSUPERNATURAL ELEMENTS ARE OFTEN PRESENT IN MYTHS. SUPERNATURAL ELEMENTS IN A MYTH ARE MAGICAL POWERS AND SPIRITS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THEY MAY BE PRESENT IN A MYTH?

Symbolism in Mythology: Mythology serves many purposes.

• http://www.mythsdreamssymbols.com/importanceofmyth.html

• Myths grant continuity and stability to a culture.

• Myths present guidelines for living.

• Myths justify a culture's activities.

• Myths give meaning to life.

• Myths explain the unexplainable.

• Myths also satisfy our need to understand the natural world; for example, they might state that a drought is caused by an angry deity. This purpose of mythology was especially important before the advent of modern science.– Big Bang theory and evolution replace need for myths.

• Myths offer hero role models. In particular, children pattern themselves after heroes; comic books and Saturday-morning cartoons. Adults, too, can find role models, in the stories of deities' strength, persistence, and courage.