MythologyMythology

Function, Role, & Purpose in Function, Role, & Purpose in SocietySociety

Myth DefinedMyth Defined

A traditional story about heroes and/or A traditional story about heroes and/or supernatural beings, often explaining the origins supernatural beings, often explaining the origins (creation) of nature/existence and aspects of (creation) of nature/existence and aspects of human behavior (creation myth: an origin belief; a human behavior (creation myth: an origin belief; a supernatural story that describes the beginnings of supernatural story that describes the beginnings of humanity, earth life, the universe, etc.)humanity, earth life, the universe, etc.)

A character, story, theme, or object that embodies A character, story, theme, or object that embodies a particular idea or aspect of culture (myths don’t a particular idea or aspect of culture (myths don’t have to have a moral; they can be about what is have to have a moral; they can be about what is important in society/culture)important in society/culture)

Function/Purpose of MythFunction/Purpose of Myth

Answers the unanswerable (such as creation – Answers the unanswerable (such as creation – addresses what was created and how)addresses what was created and how)- science before there was science- science before there was science

Conveys cultureConveys culture- values & beliefs (creation, family structure, - values & beliefs (creation, family structure, gender roles, morals, etc.)gender roles, morals, etc.)- geographical assimilations (housing, clothing, - geographical assimilations (housing, clothing, foods, work/jobs, i.e. farmers, warriors, sailors, foods, work/jobs, i.e. farmers, warriors, sailors, etc.)etc.)

Myth in SocietyMyth in Society

Since man has lived in social groups, there have been Since man has lived in social groups, there have been myths (no society without them)myths (no society without them)

Oral traditionOral tradition- myths existed orally long before they were written on - myths existed orally long before they were written on paperpaper- passed down through generations- passed down through generations- unifies a people (way we feel connected to one another)- unifies a people (way we feel connected to one another)

Adapt over time with societyAdapt over time with society- Old vs. New Testament of the Bible- Old vs. New Testament of the Bible- kinder Greek gods in newer myths- kinder Greek gods in newer myths

Mythological ArchetypesMythological Archetypes

Archetype: image, symbol, event, character, Archetype: image, symbol, event, character, figure, etc. that is used repeatedly in art or figure, etc. that is used repeatedly in art or literatureliterature

Patterns/parallels in stories from extremely Patterns/parallels in stories from extremely divergent cultures (i.e. flood, death/rebirth, hero, divergent cultures (i.e. flood, death/rebirth, hero, scapegoat, outcast, devil, monster, earth mother, scapegoat, outcast, devil, monster, earth mother, temptress, Platonic ideal, unfaithful wife, sorrowing temptress, Platonic ideal, unfaithful wife, sorrowing mother, “fall” of man, quest, journey, task, light & mother, “fall” of man, quest, journey, task, light & dark, water & desert, Heaven & Hell, etc.)dark, water & desert, Heaven & Hell, etc.)