A Little Introduction to Mythology…

1. A Little Introduction to Mythology… English II

2. What is a Myth?? • A story that is usually of known origin and at least partially traditional. • Relates to historical events usually to explain some practice, belief, institution, or phenomenon. • Especially associated with religious rites and beliefs.

3. Scholars Believe: • Myths are part of every society, for they help answer difficult questions. • Myths are: • Simply the imaginative product of a primitive mind • Sacred tales • Myths were pure fantasy masquerading as reality • Depict and reveal behavior and problems common to all humans

4. So What? What’s the Purpose? • Simply put: To “Know Thyself” is why we study myths • To Teach: • How to behave in society • A moral directive • To Explain: • Man’s origin • The existence of natural phenomena • Political origins

5. And How Did We Receive Word? • Oral History passed by word of mouth • They WERE NOT written down • A clever storyteller or poet would add touches to the myths in order to keep the audiences attention • The versions of the same myth would differ due to how the storyteller embellished it

6. Why Do We Study Myths? • They are eluded to in literature. • The gods, demigods, and the heroes of myth play a part in music • Myths have influenced the arts • Myths are an important link to the past. Although they are NOT true, they provide details of day-to-day life.

7. With Myth Comes a Hero… • What is a HERO? • A being endowed with great courage and strength celebrated for bold exploits and favored by the gods.

8. Greek Heroes • Greek Heroes met SOME or ALL of the following descriptions: • The hero usually had an unusual birth. • His father was often immortal, while his mother was mortal. • He was born into royalty. • There’s often a prophecy about the hero’s birth. • The hero had some accomplishment from his childhood that indicated his potential as a hero. • As soon as he reached manhood, the hero chose a dangerous adventure.

9. Greek Heroes Continued… • The hero came face to face with death and returned from his encounter with honor and fame. • He married (royalty perhaps). • He was forced to leave his homeland again due to an error in judgment. • He experienced a violent or unusual death. Normally his was buried without honor.

10. A Little Side Note… • Greek heroes were destroyers as well as conquerors. • Greek heroes may have been in a contest or asked to perform a special task of some kind.