Transcript Myths
+
Stories From the Beginning of Time
Myths
+
Myth: A Definition
•
An ancient story dealing with
supernatural beings, ancestors, and
heroes
•
It explains the view of a group of
people
•
The word mythology is Greek in origin
(etymology)
•
•
Mythos= story
Logo= speech or argument
+
What are Myths?
Myths-
Stories that use fantasy to express
ideas about life that cannot easily be
expressed in realistic terms
They
are, at heart, religious stories
They
deal with and explore the
relationship between human beings and
the unknown/spiritual world
They
were once believed to be true
+
Purposes of Myths…
Scientific:
explanations of
things in nature
Literary:
entertainment;
good storytelling
Religious: give
meaning to things
in life; explain the
role of the gods in
everyday life
+
Why do we Study Myths?
They
depict and reveal
behavior problems
common to all human
beings
Remind us that human
nature is the same across
time and culture
Reveal that many social,
ethical, and religious
attitudes continue through
time
They
reflect the attitudes,
priorities, and values of the
cultures that produced them
+
Cultures that Have Myths
Every
culture has its own mythology
Universal
symbols and themes
appear in different cultures’ myths
Greek,
Roman, Native American,
Celtic, South American, African,
and Norse mythology are examples
of myths from different cultures
+
Characteristics of Myths
Contain
heroes
and heroines
Supernatural
elements
Told
orally
(spoken)
Gods
and
goddesses
Explains
a natural
phenomenon
+
The Reason for Myths
To
help explain the unexplainable
To
explain natural phenomenon
To
tell about their heroes
To
explain human nature
To
teach morals and values
+
Greek and Roman Mythology
The
mythology from the Greek and
Roman cultures is often called
“Classical Mythology.”