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Journal #1

Journal #1. Think about the stories we tell today. Why do we tell them? What purpose do these stories serve in our culture? ½ page minimum. Phaeton. Myth Defined. Greek Mythos =“discourse” or “speech”

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Journal #1

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  1. Journal #1 • Think about the stories we tell today. Why do we tell them? What purpose do these stories serve in our culture? • ½ page minimum

  2. Phaeton

  3. Myth Defined • Greek Mythos=“discourse” or “speech” • Dictionary: A traditional story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that informs or shapes the world view of a people, by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the customs or ideals of society.

  4. Myth vs. Legend vs. Folktale Myth =Story based on culture, concerning the early history of people, with some supernatural stuff (mortal and immortals), Seeks to explain or justify the natural world Legend =story from the past, has a validated historical basis unlike a myth or a folktale Folktale = story based on by word of mouth; entertainment, does NOT try to explain/describe human behavior

  5. Elements of Greek Myth • Interaction between gods and humans • Gods as hypertrophied humans • Gods as flawed beings • Supernatural beings and monsters • Larger than life, godly “superheroes”

  6. Best-known writers of Greek and Roman mythology. Homer – One of the oldest known Greek literary sources, Homer's epic poemsIliad and Odyssey focus on events surrounding the aftermath of the Trojan War. He is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. Hesiod- Was a poor farmer and a near contemporary of Homer. His two poems, the Theogonyand the Works and Days, contain accounts of the genesis of the world, the succession of divine rulers, the succession of human ages, the origin of human woes, and the origin of sacrificial practices. Ovid - His poetry influenced European art and literature and remains as one of the most important sources of classical poetry.

  7. Continued. Pindar- Greatest lyric poet, many versions of his poems still exists today. Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides- All tragic poets, Aeschylus was the oldest and Euripides was the youngest. The famous play, Oedipus Rex, came from Sophocles. Aristophanes- Great writer of comedy. Plato- Famous philosopher . Virgil- Found human nature in the myths, and he brought mythological personages to life as no one had since the tragedians.

  8. Purposes of Myth Herakles

  9. Myths Explain Natural Occurrences • Examples? • Gaea and Ouranos • Thunder and lightning (Zeus) • Earthquakes (Poseidon) • Seasons (Persephone & Demeter) • The sun rises (Greece: Helios’ chariot, Egypt: Ra and Semektet)

  10. Myths Explain Fundamental Philosophical Questions • Early Greeks as proto philosophers • Attempting to answer fundamental questions • Where did we come from? • Who created the universe? • Is there life after death? • To explain is to control • Comfort in knowing

  11. Myths Explain Culture and Institutions • Why women couldn’t vote • To explain is to control • Athena and Poseidon both want to rule and protect Athens • Gift contest • Poseidon=saltwater well (useless) • Athena=olive tree (olive, wood, oil) • Men vote for Poseidon, women for Athena • Athena wins • Poseidon flood the Attic plain • Athenians blame the women, take away vote

  12. Myths as Means to Instruct • Myths often relay a message or moral • Teach cultural traditions, values • Icarus—life has limits • Narcissus and the dangers of pride and self love

  13. Myths to Explain History • To hold onto history • So people don’t make the same mistakes • Attempts to create a past

  14. Myths to Entertain • Couldn’t read or write • Entertained with blood, shock, sex, and exciting tales (like our movies) • Heroes: • Heracles, Odysseus, Theseus, Jason • Stronger, smarter, more handsome than mere mortals • Nobility in humanity • Humans are better than gods

  15. Cultural Supremacy and Civil Order • Persuasion • Greek superiority over non-Greeks • Other as “barbarians” • Religion: Cult & Ritual • Maintained order • Gave people reason to be loyal to a city • Temples and sacrifices • Feared retribution of the gods Apollo’s Temple at Delphi

  16. Why Study Myth?

  17. To Understand Literature and Art Poems Paintings Stories: Plays Mythical allusions and references: Keats and the Romantics Shakespeare “Like Hyperion to a satyr” (Hamlet)

  18. Brueghel’s Landscape with the Fall of Icarus (1555)

  19. Truth in Myth • Universal truths • Stories about the human condition

  20. Archetypes and Mythic Patterns • Greek characters, places, themes have influenced (consciously or not) Western literature and art • Journeys to the underworld • Serpent figures • Temptresses • Finding connecting patterns

  21. Myth and Language • Word origins • Arthritis • Narcissism • Sirens • Hook • Air • Anchor • Achilles • Elixir • Atlas • Volcano • Aphrodisiac • Herculean • Tantalize • Music

  22. Myth and Cultural Literacy • E.D. Hirsch • Knowledge of myths makes us literate • Enriches our understanding of the Western world • Empowering • Shared culture

  23. This is not a “G” rated class Mythology is … - violence - death - war - hideous injuries - love - sex - power - deceit - ambrosia - pride - hate - jealousy - impossible feats

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