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WEEK 2 LECTURE: MYTHS & LEGENDS HWST 104 MYTHOLOGY Mythology is the study of myth. The term myth is often used to refer to a false story. However, the academic ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: WEEK%202%20LECTURE:%20MYTHS%20


1
WEEK 2 LECTUREMYTHS LEGENDS
  • HWST 104

2
MYTHOLOGY
  • Mythology is the study of myth.
  • The term myth is often used to refer to a false
    story. However, the academic use of the term does
    not pass judgment on truth or falsity.

3
MYTHOLOGY
  • Mythology is a collection of traditional stories
    that express the beliefs or values of a group of
    people
  • It is the basis for the understanding of our own
    existence
  • All cultures have some type of myths
  • (ie Greeks, Romans, Native Americans, Maori,
    etc.)
  • The same myths can often be found in different
    parts of the world. For example, creation stories
    related to plants, animals, and people are common
    among many cultures.

4
MYTHS
  • Myths are poetic stories that express a world
    view and embodies the ideals, beliefs, and dreams
    of a society. In fact, if a dream is the
    unconscious expression of an individual reality,
    then a myth is the collective consciousness of
    society's dreams
  • Myths help groups of people identify themselves
    and define their values. It helps validate social
    order and provides a moral code by which to live.

5
MYTHS
  • In other words, by studying myth, a person can
    learn how a culture thought, lived, and expressed
    themselves.  HISTORY can tell you facts about a
    people, but MYTH shows you the personality, their
    beliefs, fears, and hopes. 

6
MYTHS
  • Myths often explain natural phenomena.
  • Myths explain universal truths or values using
    symbols.

7
MYTHS
  • Myths are spiritual in nature and are meant to
    instruct/teach the spirit and resonate something
    within you. They are clues to the spiritual
    potential of the human life.

8
MYTHS
  • Myths inform people in the ways of living
    successfully in a given geography

9
CHARACTERISTICS OF A MYTH
  • Sacred stories concerning the distant past
  • Often uses the supernatural to interpret natural
    events and to explain the basic questions of
    human existence such as the nature of the
    universe and humanity
  • Conveys how to live assumptions, values, core
    meanings of individuals, families, communities,
    and cultures
  • Often incorporates characters that are non-human
    such as gods, goddesses, demigods, and
    supernatural beings.

10
MYTHS
  • You may encounter different versions of stories.
    No one can say that one version of a story is
    right and the others wrong.
  • To understand myths, one must look beyond the
    literal translation. Instead, you should study
    the symbols and ideas.

11
MYTHS
  • Characters and symbols in myths can mean
    different things to different people.
  • In fact, they can even mean different things to
    the same person at different times.

12
EXAMPLES OF MYTHS
  • Classic Myths
  • Pandoras Box
  • Homers Iliad
  • Pele Hiiaka
  • Modern-day myths have many components of
    ancient/classic myths, as in the following
  • Star Wars
  • Lord of the Rings
  • Whale Rider
  • Superman
  • Finding Nemo
  • Monsters Inc.

13
MYTHOLOGY IN MODERN DAY SOCIETY
  • Mythology is everywhere! Many companies/groups/cor
    porations take their name, logo or theme from
    ancient mythology. Below are just a few
  • Ajax Greek warrior in the Trojan war who
    cleaned up in battle (household cleaner)
  • Apollo God of music (Apollo Theater)
  • Nike Winged goddess of victory who can run and
    fly at great speeds (shoes/apparel)
  • Olympus Home of the Olympian gods (camera
    company)

14
MYTHOLOGY IN MODERN DAY SOCIETY
  • There are many words/expressions that are derived
    from ancient myths
  • Achilles heel
  • Achilles Greek hero of the Trojan War who was
    said to be invulnerable on all his body except
    for his heel. It is said that he was killed in
    battle by an arrow to his heel
  • Midas touch
  • Midas King with the golden touch who transformed
    all he touched into gold
  • Herculean strength
  • Hercules Roman name for Heracles, the greatest
    Greek hero

15
LEGENDS
  • Legends are stories handed down through
    generations that are about the more recent past
  • Does not incorporate all essential elements of a
    myth
  • Often blends facts with improbable elements
  • Legends may contain references to the gods or
    accounts of extraordinary or miraculous events ,
    however it generally includes or is based on
    historical events
  • Main characters are usually human. The main
    character is generally a hero who serves as an
    exemplar or model of behavior for people within a
    society

16
EXAMPLES OF LEGENDS
  • King Arthur the Knights of the Round Table
  • Robin Hood
  • Atlantis
  • The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
  • Kamehameha The Naha Stone

17
MYTHS VS. LEGENDS
  • Considered true sacred stories that happened in
    the distant past
  • Main character is often non-human
  • Story is timeless, events are symbolic
  • Considered true stories that happened in the more
    recent past
  • Main character is usually human
  • Story told has historical information/value

18
Myths are clues to the spiritual potentialities
of the human life. -Joseph Campbell
19
All of these symbols in myths refer to
YOU. -Joseph CampbellIf all of these
symbols in myth refer to YOU, what could it
mean? -Kaipo Frias
20
  • Follow your bliss. When you do, . . . doors will
    open where you would not have thought there would
    be doors and where there wouldn't be a door for
    anyone else.
  • -Joseph Campbell
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