MYTH AND THE ORIGIN OF THE HUMANITIES

Chapter 3

Mythology Mythology is the basis for all humanities.

“the science or study of myths”

“a traditional story of unknown origin to explain nature, origin, customs, etc. of a people”

Archetypes Term coined by Carl Jung

Characters, symbols, buried assumptions passed on through the collective unconscious

Models by which people comprehend experience and cope with life

Exs. hero, outcast, angel, advocate, truth seeker

Hero-World Myth Birth of the Hero

Born under wondrous circumstances

Early Recognition Fills the early need

for acceptance Great Deed

End of childhood/transition to adulthood

Hero’s loss of power Their failures

testify to the greatness of their lives

Modern Heroes rejected during life but celebrated in death include-Joan of Arc, Galileo

The Hero as a Special Someone We still look for

modern day heroes to admire

Olympians Celebrities NewsmakersChelsey SullenbergerLanded his malfunctioningPlane on the Hudson River

saving 155 lives

The Power of Words and Numbers

Language is another special kind of archetype

Magic Words A person’s “word” can

make or break their credibility

“God Bless You” after a sneeze

“Jinx” when you speak at the same time

“Abra Cadabra!”

Numbers also have significance.

7 and 3 show up in most stories, myths and fairy tales.

The Circle Unbroken line

without a beginning or end

Used to symbolize oneness, completion, and eternity

The Journey Implies both

purpose and a sense of destination not just randomness

Must overcome obstacles, “no pain, no gain”

Eastern Mythology is a series of happenings, not necessarily a final task

In the East, life is one thing after another, must be accepted for what it is.

The Garden “Would that we had

never embarked on this journey; we have lost too much”

Idea of a golden age or better time

Primitivism-return to the state of Nature, led by Rousseau

Book of Genesis Wizard of Oz The Odyssey King Arthur Pilgrims searching

for the New World

Gods as Human Beings Greeks felt gods were

made in human’s image (opposite of Judeo-Christian belief)

Physical perfection, attainable by certain mortals

Gods were envious of humans

In humanizing their gods, the Greeks deified themselves

Athena punished a boastful Arachne after losing a weaving competition to her, turning her into a spider

Myth as Explanation Myths were created

to explain natural phenomena

Ex. Changing seasons

Myths were created to explain the troubles that are part of life

Death and loss

Myths Explain… Creation

Seasons Changing

Human Suffering

Cursed by Fate

Myths of Childhood Explain values

don’t talk to strangers

Obey your parents Work hard

Importance of Being Attractive and Rich Cinderella Princess and the

Pea

Importance of Names Rupelstiltskin Affirms identities

The Dark Side Life is not always

sunny

Common Sayings What goes around,

comes around Mother Nature They’ll think of

something All you need is love It must be fate Just desserts Us versus Them

There’s always room at the top

Isn’t that just like a man/woman?

Everybody does it