module-in-Myth-and-Folklore-UNIT-1-1-2.docx

**Unit 1: On Mythology and Folklore** **Introduction** Mighty heroes...Clash of the Titans...Angry gods and goddesses... Cunning animals....Mythology and folklore have been used since the first people gathered around the fire as a way to make sense of humankind and our world. This course focuses o...

**Unit 1: On Mythology and Folklore** **Introduction** Mighty heroes...Clash of the Titans...Angry gods and goddesses... Cunning animals....Mythology and folklore have been used since the first people gathered around the fire as a way to make sense of humankind and our world. This course focuses on the many myths and legends woven into cultures around the world. Starting with an overview of mythology and the many kinds of folklore, we will journey with ancient heroes as they slay dragons and outwit the gods, follow fearless warrior women into battle and watch as clever animals outwit those stronger than themselves. We will explore the universality and social significance of myths and folklore, and see how they are still used to shape society today. Since the beginning of time, people have gathered around fires to tell stories of angry gods, harrowing journeys, cunning animals, horrible beasts, and the mighty heroes who vanquished them. Mythology and folklore have provided a way for these colorful stories to spring to life for thousands of years. This module in Mythology and Folklore will illustrate how these famous anecdotes have helped humans make sense of the world. Beginning with an overview of mythology and different types of folklore, you will journey with age-old heroes as they slay dragons, outwit gods, defy fate, fight endless battles, and outwit clever monsters with strength and courage. You'll explore the universality and social significance of myths and folklore and see how these powerful tales continue to shape society even today. **1.1. The Meaning of Myths, Folklore, Legends, and Fairy Tale** The terms myth, folklore, legend, and fairy tale are often used interchangeably, leading to the misconception that they mean the same thing: fanciful tales. Although it\'s true that these terms may refer to bodies of writing that answer some of life\'s basic questions or present commentary on morality, each type presents a distinct reader experience. They\'ve all stood the test of time, which speaks volumes about their on-going hold on our imaginations. **Myth.** A myth is a traditional story that may answer life\'s overarching questions, such as the origins of the world (the creation myth) or of a people. A myth can also be an attempt to explain mysteries, supernatural events, and cultural traditions. Sometimes sacred in nature, a myth can involve gods or other creatures. It presents reality in dramatic ways. Many cultures have their own versions of common myths that contain archetypal images and themes. One common myth that spans multiple cultures is that of a great flood. Myth criticism is used to analyze these threads in literature. A prominent name in myth criticism is that of the literary critic, professor, and editor Northrop Frye. Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives or stories that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. The main characters in myths are usually gods, demigods, or supernatural humans. Stories of everyday human beings, although often of leaders of some type, are usually contained in legends, as opposed to myths. Myths are often endorsed by rulers and priests or priestesses and are closely linked to religion or spirituality.\[1\] Many societies group their myths, legends, and history together, considering myths and legends to be true accounts of their remote past. In particular, creation myths take place in a primordial age when the world had not achieved its later form. Other myths explain how a society\'s customs, institutions, and taboos were established and sanctified.\[1\]\[7\] There is a complex relationship between recital of myths and the enactment of rituals. **Folklore and Folktale.** Whereas myth has at its core the origins of a people and is often sacred, folklore is a collection of fictional tales about people or animals. Superstitions and unfounded beliefs are important elements in the folklore tradition. Both myths and folklore were originally circulated orally. Folktales describe how the main character copes with the events of everyday life, and the tale may involve crisis or conflict. These stories may teach people how to cope with life (or dying) and also have themes common among cultures worldwide. The study of folklore is called folkloristics. **Legend.** A legend is a story that\'s purported to be historical in nature but that is without substantiation. Prominent examples include King Arthur, Blackbeard, and Robin Hood. Where evidence of historical figures, such as King Richard, actually exists, figures such as King Arthur are legends due in large part to the many stories that have been created about them. Legend also refers to anything that inspires a body of stories or anything of lasting importance or fame. The story is handed down orally but continues to evolve with time. Much of early literature began as legend told and retold in epic poems that were passed down orally originally, then at some point written down. These include masterpieces such as the Greek Homeric Poems (\"The Iliad\" and \"The Odyssey\"), circa 800 BCE, to the French \"Chanson de Roland,\" circa 1100 CE. **Fairy Tale.** A fairy tale may involve fairies, giants, dragons, elves, goblins, dwarves, and other fanciful and fantastic forces. Although originally not written for children, in the most recent century, many old fairy tales have been \"Disneyfied\" to be less sinister and to appeal to kids. These stories have taken on lives of their own. In fact, many classic and contemporary books, such as \"Cinderella,\" \"Beauty and the Beast,\" and \"Snow White,\" are based on fairy tales. But read the original Grimm brothers\' fairy tales, for example, and you\'ll be surprised at the endings and how they differ from the versions that you may have grown up with. **[[https://www.thoughtco.com/defining-terms-myth-folklore-legend-735039]](https://www.thoughtco.com/defining-terms-myth-folklore-legend-735039)** **Mythology.** The term mythology may either refer to the study of myths in general, or a body of myths regarding a particular subject. The study of myth began in ancient history.Today, the study of myth continues in a wide variety of academic fields, including folklore studies, philology, psychology, and anthropology. Moreover, the academic comparisons of bodies of myth are known as comparative mythology. Since the term myth is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrative as a myth can be highly political: many adherents of religions view their religion\'s stories as true and therefore object to the stories being characterised as myths. Nevertheless, scholars now routinely speak of Jewish mythology, Christian mythology, Islamic mythology, Hindu mythology, and so forth. Traditionally, Western scholarship, with its Judeo-Christian heritage, has viewed narratives in the Abrahamic religions as being the province of theology rather than mythology. Meanwhile, identifying religious stories of colonised cultures, such as stories in Hinduism, as myths enabled Western scholars to imply that they were of lower truth-value than the stories of Christianity. Labelling all religious narratives as myths can be thought of as treating different traditions with parity. In short mythology is the study of myths which are symbols of fundamental truths within a society which has a strong sense of oral tradition. Folklore on the other hand includes the traditional elements of the way of life of a group of people and creative expressions developing naturally as part of this culture. **1.2. The Purpose of Mythology** Mythology serves many purposes. As mythology or belief system often concerns with supernatural beings/powers of a culture, it provides a rationale for a culture\'s religion and practices, and reflects how people relate to each other in everyday life. Myths grant continuity and stability to a culture. It presents guidelines for living, justifies a culture\'s activities, gives meaning to life, explains the unexplainable and offers role models. But it is clear that in their general characteristics and in their details a people\'s myths reflect, express, and explore the people\'s self-image. The study of myth is thus of central importance in the study both of individual societies and of human culture as a whole. Myths are more than mere stories and they serve a more profound purpose in ancient and modern cultures. Myths are sacred tales that explain the world and man\'s experience. Myths are as relevant to us today as they were to the ancients. Myths answer timeless questions and serve as a compass to each generation. Another purpose of a myth was to provide the hearer with a truth which the audience then interpreted for themselves within the value system of their culture. Mythology tries to answer the most difficult and the most basic questions of human existence: Who am I? Greek mythology has been used in nearly every form of popular culture. Many Greek myths have been adapted into modern novels, movies, TV shows and video games. The word "theatre" is derived from the Greek word "theatron", meaning the seating section of outdoor arenas where people watched plays. Check out the link attached to learn more about the purpose of mythology. [[https://prezi.com/c\_3rwbxxzhpf/what-is-the-purpose-of-mythology/]](https://prezi.com/c_3rwbxxzhpf/what-is-the-purpose-of-mythology/) **1.3. The Nature of Mythology** **\"**God made man, because he liked to hear a story.\" So say the Africans, and the rich variety of worldwide mythology proves that God chose wisely!  Myths are stories that are based on tradition. Some may have factual origins, while others are completely fictional. But myths are more than mere stories and they serve a more profound purpose in ancient and modern cultures. Myths are sacred tales that explain the world and man\'s experience. Myths are as relevant to us today as they were to the ancients. Myths answer timeless questions and serve as a compass to each generation. The myths of lost paradise, for example, give people hope that by living a virtuous life, they can earn a better life in the hereafter. The myths of a golden age give people hope that there are great leaders who will improve their lives. The hero\'s quest is a model for young men and women to follow, as they accept adult responsibilities. Some myths simply reassure, such as myths that explain natural phenomena as the actions of gods, rather than arbitrary events of nature. The subjects of myths reflect the universal concerns of mankind throughout history: birth, death, the afterlife, the origin of man and the world, good and evil and the nature of man himself. A myth taps into a universal cultural narrative, the collective wisdom of man. An excellent illustration of the universality of these themes is that so many peoples who have had no contact with each other create myths that are remarkably similar. So, for example, cultures worldwide, from the Middle East to the distant mountains of South America have myths about great floods, virgin births, and the afterlife. Unlike fairy tales, myths are not always optimistic. True to the nature of life, the essence of myths is such that they are as often warnings as promises; as often laments as celebrations. Many myths are instructive and act as a guide to social norms, taking on cultural taboos such as incest, fratricide, and greed. Myths are also pervasive in the arts and advertising, for a very simple reason. From film to cars to perfume, advertising uses visual metaphors to speak to us. While artists of every generation reinterpret myths, the same basic patterns have shown up in mythology for thousands of years. A name, phrase, or image based on a familiar myth can speak volumes to those who have been absorbing these mythic tales since birth. When we hear the expression, \"Beware of Greeks bearing gifts\" or when we see a television commercial featuring a wooden horse full of soldiers, we recognize the reference to Odysseus, who tricked the Trojans into admitting an army into their city this way. When Jacqueline Kennedy referred to her husband\'s tenure as a new Camelot, we understand that she meant it was a golden age, like that of King Arthur. When the Greek government dubbed a campaign to rescue ethnic Greeks from behind the walls of the Iron Curtain \"Operation Golden Fleece,\" we understood that they were invoking an ancient name to communicate that these people belonged to them. Each generation of storytellers adds another layer of fact and fiction to the myths, such that the themes and characters of myths are timeless, and endlessly relevant, as they are reinvented and reapplied to the lives of each new generation. [[https://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/myths\_what.html]](https://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/myths_what.html) Mythology is the study of myths. And how is this done? **By collecting stories** - from stories one can find literary evidence, as shown by the narrative elements as well as archaeological evidence that showcase folklore genre consisting of narratives or stories that play a fundamental role of creation stories. **By examining their functions** -- how does it affect the daily lives of the teller or audience as they function in the society? The traditional tales that comprise the heritage of the people shape them into someone who can live in the present and thrive in the future. **By comparing myths** - comparison of myths from different cultures enables one to identify shared themes and characteristics. Comparative mythology has served a variety of academic purposes. All mythologies are basically extinct religions; the thing that all religions and mythologies have in common is the belief in powerful supernatural entities: creator gods and their opposites, gods of chaos, gods of the elements, gods of healing, gods of prosperity, mother goddesses, etc. These are motifs one can learn in comparing myths. Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text\'s major themes. Myths basically started from oral tradition. **By assessing Myths --** one significance of the myth is that it relates to a sacred history, that is, a primordial event that took place at the beginning of time, *ab initio*\... Once told, that is, revealed, the myth becomes apodictic truth; it establishes a **truth that is absolute.** In so doing, it tells us how to attain our true purpose (divine purpose) which in turn tells us how to live our lives and how to develop our character (by imitating the heroes of the great time of origin). **Ten Characteristics of Myths** 1\. A myth is a story that is, or was considered, a true explanation of the natural world and how it came to be. It has no identifiable author. 2\. Characters are often non-human and are typically gods, goddesses, supernatural beings or mystical "fist people." 3\. Setting is typically ancient, or prior to the time when actual records were kept. Myths are typically set in a world very similar to our own, but with supernatural monsters or areas. 4\. The plot of a myth may take place between a supernatural world and our present day world. Myths do this to highlight the basic human behaviors that are essential in any setting. 5\. Myths possess events that bend or break natural laws. This is often done to magnify the "super-naturalness" of the mythical world. 6\. Promotes "Social Action"---myths try to tell people how to act and live. Core values such as individualism, family and community are often instilled in mythical heroes. 7\. Myths have sense of mystery, or the unknown. A myth that is written down in a literary form uses a story that preceded it. Sometimes the myths are even different in detail. One version is not more true than another 8\. Dualities (or complete opposites such as night/day, good/evil) often play important roles in the plot of a myth. 9\. Myths often have an emphasis on language... Mythical heroes are often sophisticated storytellers. 10\. Myths are often metaphoric---that is, myths are created to comment or analyze a real world event. Real world questions that myths often attempt to answer are: Why are we here? Who are we? Why are we living? and What is our purpose? **Types of Myth** Moreford and Lenardon's Classical Mythology classifies myth into three types. **Pure myth or true myth or myth proper.** Myths of this kind tend to be examples of primitive science or religion. They explain natural phenomena or the origin of things, and they describe how individuals should behave toward the gods. **Saga or legend.** Myths of this variety tend to be examples of primitive history; they contain a germ or seed of historical fact and enlarge upon it with great flourish. A good example of a saga or legend in the story of the war at Troy. **Folk-tale or fairy-tale.** Myths of this species tend to be examples of primitive fiction. Tales of this sort are told for pleasure and amusement. Frequently the stories contain supernatural characters such as ghosts, elves, dwarfs, or demons, and they often include elements of magic, e.g., spells, potions, and objects. Here is a link to learn more about mythology **[[http://chrisrossarthur.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/5/9/38596187/elements\_of\_myths.pdf]](http://chrisrossarthur.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/5/9/38596187/elements_of_myths.pdf)** **Functions of Mythology** Campbell outlined four primary functions of myth. Bearing in mind that myth is the origin of storytelling as we know it today, this has relevance and can even be applied to some extent to literature, art and media in our culture too. **Metaphysical**. The first function, which Campbell also believed was one of the most important, was what he termed the metaphysical. This refers to the ability of mythology to awaken a sense of awe and wonder about the very nature of existence. This is something that we've lost in our culture. Young children naturally possess this innate sense of awe, but as we grow up we generally lose it. We get bogged down in the physical, our everyday mundane existence, taking everything for granted--least of all the fact we're alive, that we exist!...which is a miracle in itself. The conditions necessary for Earth to sustain life are innumerable and exact. The planet has to be just the right distance from the sun. It needs to spin precisely the right way and have the right amount of gravity, oxygen and various other elements in perfect combination before it can support life. The fact that we exist at all is beyond amazing, yet we totally take it for granted. This Einstein quote sums up this function of myth perfectly--and it's a great quote to live by: *"There are two ways to live your life: You can live as if nothing is a miracle, or you can live as if everything is a miracle."* And one of the most important functions of myth--and all the great stories--is to get us to remember how incredible, wondrous and precious life is. **Cosmological**. The second function is cosmological. Cosmology is the study of the Universe and its components, how it was formed and evolved. Cosmology was born of questions such as "what's going on around me" and "how does the universe work?" For millennia mankind used myth (specifically creation myths) as a means of explaining and understanding the physical world and universe. These myths were created to help early man make sense of nature, weather, the passing of the seasons and the cycle of birth and death. For example, to explain the functioning of nature and the elements, cultures often assigned different gods or deities that controlled for the rain, sun, fire and water. Nature itself was personified, usually as woman--indeed, there are countless variations of the Mother Earth, Gaia, or Earth Goddess archetype across many different cultures. **Sociological**. As a sociological device, myth and storytelling have the ability to validate and support the existing social order and promote social norms, customs and beliefs. Shared stories can create a social bond between people, enabling them to share the same beliefs, outlook and understanding of life, which brought about a sense of social cohesion and community. In ancient times, mythology was part of the glue that held tribes and societies together. **Pedagogical**. The pedagogical aspect refers to mythology's ability to guide the individual through the different stages of life--from childhood to adolescence, adolescence to maturity, maturity to old age and from old age to death. As we go through life we encounter many psychological, emotional and even physical challenges. Mythology provided guidance and signposts, often reflected in rites of passage and initiations. People weren't left to struggle through these life changes on their own. They were given clear guidance through ceremony, ritual and myth and they knew clearly what was expected of them. Ancient India for example divided life into four stages: the student stage, the householder stage, the elder adviser stage and the renunciate stage where the individual leaves behind all worldly ties to seek final enlightenment. Without this kind of guidance, confusion and psychological suffering usually result, as this is widespread in today's world. We grow up in an unsettled, constantly shifting world, pretty confused and unclear about what's expected of us and how we're supposed to 'make it' in the world. In many ways we've got more choice than ever before, but this can actually make things harder and more overwhelming than if we have clearcut guidelines about what we're 'meant' to do in life. Myth gave guidance, encouragement and motivation and a sense that we weren't alone in life; that we weren't on this journey without a map and compass. Campbell described myth as being an outplaying of the various parts of ourselves that are in conflict with each other: our desires, hopes, fears and ambitions; the conflict between what we want in life and what we can get; between who we are and who we want to be. The mythological battles between heroes and demons--all the sacrifice and bravery, love and cruelty, victories and defeats--are metaphors for the conflicts of the human psyche. originated from realisations of some kind that were then expressed in symbolic form to guide us. Many of them deal with the maturation of the individual, growing from dependency to adulthood, maturity and old age; and they explored how we relate to other people, society, our culture and the world at large. The form of the myths changes with the passing of time. To remain relevant to the culture they're part of, they must evolve, adapt and transform as the world continually changes. If they don't, they become obsolete. They lose their meaning and become dumb, irrelevant stories that confuse and mislead. [**[\ ]**](https://dreamlightfugitive.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/krishna-playing-flute.jpg) **1.4 Types of Mythology** Mythology refers to a set of legends, stories, or beliefs, especially ones that illustrate a religious or cultural tradition. Myth stories usually address the origins of a people or culture, or explain events. In many instances, myths are built around the lives of gods and goddesses. If humans were involved, they were usually larger than life with tremendous heroic prowess. While we may have worked out most of nature\'s occurrences, thousands of years ago, that was not the case. Why did the rivers dry up? Why did healthy crops suddenly die? In nearly every civilization, this is when creation and nature myths began to emerge and some of the earth\'s natural phenomena were explained in a way that made sense to the people of that time. Today, we can learn about our ancestors through the study of mythology. We discover them through creation myths, animal myths, hero myths, and more. As the categories of myths abound, so do their symbolic meanings. Let\'s take a look at some types of mythology. **Animal Mythology.** In ancient tales, animals were often given special powers. Sometimes they communed between the gods and their people. Sometimes their symbolism was meant to inspire a people to greater achievements. Here are some examples: How the Bear Lost his Tail is a Native American tale about a deceitful fox and a vain bear, who liked to show off his long tail. One winter day, Fox told Bear to fish in a frozen section of the pond by dipping his tail in the water. After he did, Bear fell asleep and the water froze around his tail. When Fox woke him, Bear jumped up, and most of his tail came off. The legend of the phoenix exists in many cultures, including Greek, Egyptian, and Indian mythology. Usually, the phoenix is depicted as a bright eagle or similar bird and associated with the rising sun. After a long life, when a phoenix senses its time is coming to an end, it builds a funeral pyre. When the old phoenix is consumed by the fire, a new one emerges. In Australian Aboriginal mythology, The Kangaroo Gets a Pouch tells the tale of a kind momma kangaroo who saved both her son and a stray wombat from hunters. After the ordeal, the wombat told the momma kangaroo that he was the Father of all Creatures and he wanted to reward her goodness. He told her to place some bark on her stomach. Lo and behold, a pouch appeared. Now, she had a way of keeping her son, Joey, safe. In Norse mythology, Huginn and Muninn are a pair of ravens that serve Odin and are even considered an extension of him. They fly around the world and tell him everything they see, advise him, and accompany him into battle. A Native American Seneca legend also attempted to explain why chipmunks have stripes. One day, a bear boasted to a chipmunk that he could do anything. The chipmunk asked him if he could stop the sun from rising. After the bear tried and failed, the chipmunk made fun of him. In anger, the bear pinned down the chipmunk with one paw. The chipmunk managed to squeeze free but with a new set of stripes made by the bear\'s claws. **Creation Mythology.** Creation myths didn\'t necessarily emerge so civilizations could provide detailed accounts of their history. They were used as a means of understanding their current condition. How did they get there? Where did this all begin? In many ways, it was easier for ancient civilizations to believe that the world was created by unseen gods or creatures, than face a series of unknown questions. Here are some examples: The Pueblo believed they began life underground and were guided by a spirit to climb up through a hole into the Earth. Once there, they found suitable land where the gods taught them how to farm, build houses, and create communities. The Inuit believed first there were giants. Two giants had a baby named Sedna, who became so large they could no longer feed her. Because of this, they threw her into the ocean, cutting off her fingers when she tried to cling to the kayak. Each finger became a sea creature. Sedna became a powerful spirit who controlled the sea and its animals. In a Filipino myth the Children of the Limokon, the Limokon were powerful birds that could talk. On the banks of the Mayo River, they laid two eggs. These eggs became the first man and woman who married and had many children In southern Nigeria, the Ekoi believed there were two gods in the beginning: Obassi Osaw of the sky and Obassi Nsi of the land. Osaw created the first man and woman. Nsi taught them how to survive. When they died, Nsi took them down into the earth In Norse mythology, Odin, the father of all gods, and his brothers Vili and Ve slew the first giant Ymir and made the world out of his body and the first humans out of tree trunks. In Papago mythology, First Born came to the world when it was only darkness and water and completed the creation of the world. After he prepared the earth, I\'itoi (Elder Brother) was created, then Coyote and Buzzard, and together they finished the world, its people and creatures. **Death or Underworld Mythology..** How did ancient people cope with destruction, death and dying? The idea of an afterlife could help rationalize life\'s sometimes brutal occurrences and lives suddenly cut short. Myths around the world contain an \"underworld,\" which could be good or bad and from which a lucky few returned, symbolizing rebirth as much as death Here are some examples In Norse mythology, Baldr was immune from harm, so the gods had fun throwing things at him. One day, trickster Loki gave the blind god Hodr mistletoe to throw at Baldr - the only thing that could hurt him - and he died. Baldr could return from death if everyone in the world cried for him. Only the giantess Thökk, actually Loki in disguise, refused to shed tears, so Baldr had to stay in the underworld. In Aztec mythology, Quetzalcoatl created mankind in its current incarnation, \"the Fifth Sun,\" by journeying to Mictlan, the underworld, and using his blood to give new life to the bones of those who had lived in the previous eras. In Egyptian mythology, Ma\'at was the goddess who decided who would enter the underworld. When people died, their hearts were placed on one side of a scale. The other side of the scale held Ma\'at\'s feather of truth. If their heart was heavier than the feather, they were sent to their \"second death.\" Hades was the ruler of the Greek underworld. Hades rarely left his kingdom but did not want to rule alone so he kidnapped Persephone to be his queen. Distraught, her mother Demeter, goddess of agriculture, let the crops die until Zeus intervened. Persephone was then destined to spend six months of the year with Hades and six months with Demeter. **Hero Mythology..** Hero myths are, perhaps, the most entertaining of all forms of mythology. They don\'t necessarily explain any natural phenomenon or major life occurrence. They might, however, illustrate admirable human traits, such as valor or morality. In these tales, a hero would be tasked with a lofty assignment. The gods would often step in, either to aid the hero or interfere and, thus, a myth was born. Here are some examples: The most famous hero is probably Hercules (Herakles in Greek). To pay for a crime he had to complete a set of heroic tasks. He also helped the Olympians arise victorious in their battle against the giants. He was the last mortal son of Zeus, but also the only mortal to become a god upon death. Achilles was also a Greek hero. He was the son of a king and a nymph. When he was born, his mother wanted him to be immortal, so she dipped him in the river Styx. However, she was holding him by his heel, mistakenly leaving that part of his body vulnerable. Achilles went on to command legions of men in the Trojan War. He died when a poisoned arrow struck that one part of his body which remained mortal. Karna was the greatest Hindu warrior ever known. His martial arts were, indeed, epic, and he went on to conquer the entire world. He single-handedly carried out a military campaign, defeating every king in the world. Beowulf was a Scandinavian hero, immortalized in a medieval poem, a brave warrior who fought and conquered the monsters that terrorized Denmark and Sweden. He not only depicted moral virtues but also lived an adventure-filled life. Perseus is another central character in Greek mythology. He was considered the greatest Greek hero, as on an epic journey he slew Medusa and saved Andromeda from the sea monster. **Making Sense of the World.** Indeed, life confounds every generation. One element of the human condition that never changes is our quest for knowledge. We want to know how we got here, what our purpose is, and how everything around us functions. Although we can\'t explain everything, we\'ve certainly come a long way from the days when angry gods had to be appeased. Yet, mythology served an important purpose for our ancestors. It helped them make sense of the world they lived in. We can all relate to that. And mythology continues to serve an important function today. It helps us better understand the rich culture and traditions of our innovative ancestors. [[https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-mythology.html]](https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-mythology.html) **[[http://www.nutramed.com/language/myths.htm]](http://www.nutramed.com/language/myths.htm)**  **Figure 1. Here's a simple breakdown of the hero's journey.** **1.5. What are myths and archetypes?** An archetype is a universal symbolic pattern. Examples of archetypal characters are the femme fatale, the trickster, the great mother and father, and the dying god. There are archetypal stories as well. Examples are stories of great floods, virgin births, creation, paradise, the underworld, and a final apocalypse. True to their universal nature, archetypal characters and stories appear again and again in myths across many diverse cultures. Archetypal myths explain the nature of the world and life. Thus, many peoples have tales to explain the origins of places and objects: the city, the mountain, the temple, the tree and even the stone. Other archetypal myths serve to instruct. For example, the quest archetype is typically a journey where the hero or heroine must overcome their own faults and weaknesses in order to reemerge as a mature, productive member of their society. While some aspects of these myths have remarkable similarities across cultures, others have peculiarities specific to that land. Sometimes it is possible to trace the inheritance of a part of a myth as it is passed from culture to culture. The mythologist, Joseph Campbell, stated: "Myths are products of the human imagination...certain themes and images (archetypes) are constant since the appearance of man. Histories are chronicles of social events, which according to place and time, greatly differ." Campbell described how the innate themes in myths are buried in local stories that become the specific identifiers or masks of local groups -- folk ideas, ethnic traditions and religions." Campbell studied, admired and understood myths, presenting them as mind-expanding explorations of innate human tendencies. The transcendent value of all stories is to convert a isolated individual who recites the stories into a fully-fledged member of a group. Innate human tendencies have been described in variety of ways. The term "archetype" refers to recurrent patterns of design, story-telling, symbol-making and ritual expressions found all over the planet at different historical times. Knowing that each human is the reincarnation of a long-lineage of ancestors, you would expect to find common themes of pattern recognition, group behavior, story-telling and symbol-making wherever you found humans. Species memory, perceptual skills, needs, drives, feelings, desires and behaviors are built in and find common expressions world-wide. The natural world is an immense repository of repeating events, designs and sequences. The original archetypes are manifestations of our built-in receptivity to the patterns of nature. The term "archetype" can also describe human expressions, manifest as common behaviors such as drumming, dancing, singing, painting and tool-making. Archetype sometimes points to expressions that recur as common elements in religion, art and other story-telling, including literature and movies. Often common characters, themes and metaphors are described inappropriately as archetypes, but are often-copied, conventional characters and plots. There are themes that recur in myths and other stories worldwide. Campbell identified five universal themes in myths: fire-theft, deluge, land-of-the-dead, virgin birth, and resurrected hero. These themes have been repeated with local inflections for thousands of years. Here are more of these great themes that make up an archetype. **Creation**. Creation myths set the stage for more particular myths supporting social structures, the relation of human beings to the natural world, and questions of life and death. A creator deity brings into being the sun, moon, and stars, seas and mountains, and so on, along with deities that personify them, then plant life, animals, and humans that populate the world. **Gods and goddesses**. Universally, people believed in ideal beings leading them. Such deities possess human characteristics: they have parents and offspring, and they belong to some social grouping. An important role of mythology is to reinforce and justify relations of power and leadership **Heroic figures.** Heroes and heroines are semi-divine beings: in many mythologies they have superhuman powers through divine parentage; or they may have acquired divinity through their deeds as men or women on earth, with the help of a deity, by use of magic weapons, or acquisition of magic powers through ingenuity or trickery. **Monsters and demons**. Monsters and demons are most familiar as the beings that a heroic figure confronts and overcomes. They defy divine order both in their appearance --typically but not invariably deformed or hideous -- and in their actions, such as attacking or capturing a human or divine victim. **Animals.** They are featured as wild creatures -- predatory beasts or the elusive prey of hunters; or as helpful beings tamed by humans, or as possessing powers. Deities may disguise themselves as animals; or they may have heads or other features in token of the characteristics they supposed to have in common, or of a clan fetish. **The underworld**. Inevitably associations with burial prompt tales of gloom and terror of the unknown yet inevitable. A strong mythic duality : Earth swallows up the dead, but equally it produces food plants and harbors mineral wealth. **Journeys, quests, and trials**. Quests and journeys bring mythological figures into a number of situations where they can prove their strength. In numerous myths loyalty to the dead initiates journeys to the underworld to try to bring loved ones back to life. **The afterlife**. The afterlife, some form of existence after death, takes as many different forms in mythologies as the culture from which they are drawn. Some speak of paradise where the pains of life on earth are left behind. After death comes judgment, a rigorous trial is conducted, and torture awaits those who fail the trial. **Worlds destroyed**. Creation may be seen in myth as chance event or something that occurred despite opposing forces; likewise an end to the world in its present form may be inevitable or threatened, whether by divine will, as a result of attack by forces of evil, or in punishment for human misdeeds. **Sources of Mythology and Folklore** **Aesop's Fables** : a collection of fables under the name of Aesop over 2,000 years ago in Greece. According to Herodotus, Aesop lived in the mid-sixth century and was a slave and that he was killed by the people of Delphi, perhaps for seditious or sacrilegious beliefs. **A Thousand and One Nights (also known as The Arabian Nights)** : a collection of stories and fables from Arabia, Egypt, India, and Persia that were compiled from oral tales that had been passed down through these cultures for generations. Some of the well-known characters include Aladdin, Ali Baba, and Sinbad the Sailor. Jinn are common figures in these stories. **The Great Epics of the World:** Myths and legends are usually sourced from the existing epics of the different cultures of the world. The Iliad and The Odyssey of the Greeks, The Aeneid of the Romans, The Mahabharata and Ramayana of India, Beouwolf of England, The Song of Roland of France, El Cid of Spain, Sha Namah of Persia, Gilgamesh of the Babylonians, etc. **The Panchatantra** : a collection of fables which was used to educate Indian princes into becoming wise kings. It is supposed that Aesop's Fables largely owed much from the Panchatantra. **The Poems of Hesiod** : Theogony and Works and Days. Hesiod is an early Greek poet who probably flourished around 700 B.C. Much of Greek mythology came from his two complete works. **Some Interesting Characters from Mythology** https://parade.com/1056247/marynliles/mythical-creatures/ A legendary, mythical and mythological creature, also called a fabulous creature and fabulous beast, is a supernatural animal, generally a hybrid, sometimes part human, whose existence has not or cannot be proved and that is described in folklore but also in historical accounts before history became a science. **Dragons**. Stories of fire-breathing dragons vary throughout different cultures. In Chinese mythology, dragons are of many different types. Most of them are known to be both generous and wise. Some represent good luck. The spiritual Azure Dragon which controls the weather is the most powerful Chinese dragon. **Unicorn**. The unicorn is a mystical animal that is found in the mythologies of many different cultures throughout the world. Representing beauty, goodness, and strength, this legendary creature appears in art, folklore, and literature. During the Middle Ages, the unicorn was a symbol of love and purity. **Troll**. According to Scandinavian folklore, trolls are hostile creatures who lived inside dark caves in the mountains. They are keepers of buried treasures such as silver and gold, and are known for their pointed ears, long noses, and large teeth. They can live for 500 years and are impossible to kill for they have the ability to regenerate or regrow a lost or severed body part in a matter of days. **Jinni**. A jinni is a spirit from Arab and Muslim folklore that inhabits the earth and can assume human or animal form. Jinns have many supernatural powers, such as the ability to cast spells on people and grant them wishes. There are five tribes of jinn. These are according to their power, the Marid, the Efrit, the Shaitan, the Jinn, and the Jann. **Hydra**. The nine-headed serpent Hydra is one of the most hideous and ghastly monsters of Greek mythology. Slayed by Heracles, Hydra was almost indestructible because two crude heads would spring up to replace each head that a slayer would sever. Hydra was a child of the terrible monster Typhon, who has 100 heads and 200 evil eyes that oozed venom. **Chimera**. The chimera is a huge fire-breathing monster that has the head of a lion, the body of a dragon, and the hind legs of a goat. According to Greek mythology, the Chimera ravaged the Greek city of Lycia until it was slayed by the prince of Corinth, Bellerophon with the help of Pegasus. **Centaur.** The centaurs are a group of monsters that lived in the mountains near the city of Arcadia in Greece. From the waist up, their bodies are human, and their lower bodies and legs are in the form of a horse. The centaurs lived without regard to order and do not honor the gods or respect humans. One good centaur however is Chiron, the son of Cronus, who is an immortal known for his kindness and wisdom. **Fenrir**. Fenrir is a large ferocious wolf with fierce yellow eyes and tremendous jaw. When it was just a pup, the Norse god captured it and locked it in a cage because they feared the wolf might one day be responsible for the destruction of the world. **Oni**. The oni are giant horned demons. They are said to have come to Japan from China with the arrival of Buddhism, and Buddhist priest perform annual rites to expel them. The oni can be a variety of colors and have three fingers, three toes and sometimes three eyes. Cruel and lecherous, they can sweep down from the sky to steal the souls of dying people. **Nagas**. According to South-east Asian mythology, nagas are supernatural beings who take the form of serpents. The king of the serpent deities Mucilinda shelters the Buddha with the outspread hoods of his seven heads during a downpour that lasted for seven days. When the sun returns, the serpent is transformed into a young prince who paid homage to Buddha. **Guei or Kuei**. In Chinese mythology, guei are spirits formed from the yin, or negative essence, of people's souls. These spirits of emanations are always feared because they are said to take their revenge on those people who ill-treated them when they were alive. They can be identified because they wear clothes which have no hems and their bodies cast non shadows. **Kappa**. In Japanese mythology, the kappa is a race of monkey-like demons. They lived in ponds and rivers and lure human beings, as well as other creatures down into the depths of the water where they then feed on them. As well as being particularly fond of blood, the also like cucumbers. They have monkey-like faces, webbed hands and feet and yellow-green skin. They wear shells like tortoises. **Cyclops.** Most often depicted as a giant with one eye, the cyclops (which means 'circle-eyed') first appeared in ancient Greek mythology. Somewhat lesser known than the classic Greek gods, the cyclopes lived in isolation and tended sheep or goats without any government, society, or community. While scorned for their lawlessness, it was the cyclopes who created Zeus' thunderbolts, Hades helmet which made the wearer invisible, Poseidon's trident, and Artemis' silver bow. So, we should give them some credit for their creativity. **1.6. Theories Related to the Study of Mythology** Despite the ease with which \"myth\" is used, it is not an easy concept to define. There is no satisfactory \"one size fits all\" definition, and myth textbooks in particular often simply resort to the customary definition of \"traditional tale.\" This definition is inadequate, however, because it does not address either the complexity of the content of what is generally held to be \"myth\" or the transmission of the tales or the role myth plays in a culture. Csapo (2005), attempts to solve this problem with a new definition, and his definition has much merit. For Csapo, myth is \"socially important narrative told in such a way as to allow the entire social collective to share a sense of this importance\", with a sliding scale of \"importance\" allowing myth\'s cousins, \"legend\" and \"folktale,\" to fit easily into this definition. His definition has the advantage of accommodating all stories usually identified as \"myth,\" accounting for the existence of variants of a myth (the more important the myth, the more often it is retold; the more retellings, the more variants), and, most significantly, recognizing the crucial role myth plays in a society (myth is a \"function of social ideology\"; it expresses a culture\'s fears, desires, morals, and worldview, and as such, is more than simply an amusing story). The way myths are interpreted needs to be understood by pre-service education students because through the varied framework espoused by different theories, they will be able to convey to their learners the perspective by which myth is learned. Here are some of these theories. **1.6.1. Ancient Theories** **1. Rationalism.** According to this theory, myths represent an early form of logical thinking: they all, havea logical base. For example, the myth of Pegasus, the flying horse can best be explained by imagining the reaction of the first Greek to see a horse. Compared to other animals they know, the horse must have seemed to fly as it gallops fast and leap over high obstacles. **2. Etymological Theory.** This theory states that all myths derive from and can be traced back to certain words in the language. Sources of most mythological characters have their origins from the languages of the world. Hades, for example, originally meant "unseen" but came eventually to be the name for the god of the dead. **3. Allegorical theory.** In the allegorical explanation, all myths contain hidden meanings which the narrative deliberately conceals or encodes. Example : story of King Midas and his golden touch**.** Allegorists offered this simple reason why stories were used in the first place rather than a simple statement of the ideas they represented: they interested people who might not listen to emotionless concepts but who could be attracted by imaginative narratives. **4. Euhemerism.** Euhemerus, a Greek who lived from 325-275 BC, maintained that all myths arise from historical events which were merely exaggerated **1.6.2. Modern Theories** **1. Naturalism.** In this hypothesis, all myths are thought to arise from an attempt to explain natural phenomena. People who believe in this theory narrow the source of myths by tracing their origins from the worship of the sun or the moon. **2. Ritualism.** According to this theory, all myths are invented to accompany and explain religious ritual; they describe the significant events which have resulted in a particular ceremony. **3. Diffusionism.** The diffusionists maintain that all myths arose from a few major cultural centers and spread throughout the world. **4. Evolutionism.** Myth making occurs at a certain stage in the evolution of the human mind. Myths, are therefore, an essential part of all developing societies and the similarities from one culture to the next can be explained by the relatively limited number of experiences opento such communities when myths arise. **5. Freudianism.** When Sigmund Freud, the founder of modern psychology, interpreted the dreams of his patients, he found great similarities between them and the ancient myths. Freud believes continues to exist within the individual in some other form. Sometimes these feelings emerge into consciousness under various disguises, one of which is the myth. **6. Jungian archetypes.** Carl Jung was a prominent psychologist who, while he accepted Freud's theory about the origin of myths , did not believe that it went far in explaining the striking similarities between the motifs found in ancient stories and those of his patients. He postulated that each of us possesses a "collective unconscious" which we inherit genetically. It contains very general ideas, themes, or motifs which are passed along from one generation to another and are retained as part of our human inheritance. **7. Structuralism.** This theory is a fairly recent development and is closely allied with the research of linguists. According to this theory, all human behaviour, the way we eat, dress, speak, is patterned into codes which have the characteristics of language. To understand the real meaning of myth, therefore, we must analyze it linguistically. **8. Historical-critical theory.** This theory maintains that there are a multitude of factors which influence the origin and development of myths and that no single explanation will suffice. We must examine each story individually to see how it began and evolved.  **1.7. Connecting Oracy and Literacy to Mythology** Oracy, a term coined by Wilkinson in 1965, is used to represent oral language ability parallel to literacy. It has later been superseded by the term, orality, referring to using speech to construct knowledge and make meaning. Oracy and literacy are like two sides of a coin. Oracy is to speaking what numeracy is to mathematics or literacy to reading and writing. In short, it\'s nothing more than being able to express yourself well. It\'s about having the vocabulary to say what you want to say and the ability to structure your thoughts so that they make sense to others. Teaching oracy is instrumental to better reading and, in particular, writing. In developmental terms, humans acquire oral language first \-- a prerequisite for literacy. And the cycle of talk before writing is well established as sound pedagogical practice. Telling stories is how humans traditionally pass knowledge from generation to generation. Engaging children in oral storytelling (without the use of a printed book) is also an effective teaching practice for oral language development. Storytelling is a special way of sharing ideas, language, and stories with children Telling stories is one of the most powerful means that leaders have to influence, teach, and inspire. What makes storytelling so effective for learning? For starters, storytelling forges connections among people, and between people and ideas. Stories convey the culture, history, and values that unite people. The word and concept of myth has so many meanings, it's sometimes confusing to know what it means. It could be a **false belief** --- 'the myth that evening primrose oil can cure eczema' --- or even something **imaginary** --- 'We're beginning to think Sue's new boyfriend is a myth because nobody's seen him' --- but in literary terms, there are three basic ways of looking at myth. **3 incredibly Powerful Ways Myths inform Storytelling** **From Zeus to Superman**. In classical Greek storytelling, myth --- or mythos --- signified any traditional story that explains the forces of nature or the signs, rituals, and customs of society. It usually involves supernatural beings, but if the hero is human and mortal, it's often called a legend instead. **Inherited or invented**. Through the ages, writers borrowed heavily from Greek and Roman mythology --- often using Greek heroes or tragedies as allusions or metaphors to shape their stories or poems. Other writers integrated the myths into their own myth-building works, whether it's an invented world, being or, in some cases, language. It is usually experimental, exaggerated, or highly idealised. **Archetypal storytelling**. Most modern stories are in some way based on mythical archetypes --- some echo the plot and characters of ancient myth, others use the imagery, themes, and symbolism of these enduring myths. James N. Frey, in his great how-to book,The Key, says that myth can provide not only stimulation for novelists but also concepts and patterns that readers can relate to when interpreting the story. Literary scholar M.H. Abrams writes, 'A mythology, we can say, is a religion which we no longer believe.' This is a powerful statement, but I would add: people want to believe --- and that's what makes myth such a powerful tool for the learner. As Frey writes, 'The myth-making faculty is inherent in the thinking process and its products satisfy a basic human need.' People have been creating myths to make sense of life since the beginning of time. As pre-service teacher who will teach literacy spring-boarding from orality, we continue that tradition. [[https://www.writerswrite.co.za/3-incredibly-powerful-ways-myths-inform-storytelling/]](https://www.writerswrite.co.za/3-incredibly-powerful-ways-myths-inform-storytelling/) [[https://prezi.com/jsraf5m60zpr/the-power-of-storytelling-myth/]](https://prezi.com/jsraf5m60zpr/the-power-of-storytelling-myth/) **The Power of Storytelling and Mythology** Stories have power. Whether in the form of a novel, short story, film, TV series--or even a video game--a good story  has the ability to transport us from our everyday reality to whole other worlds. By engaging our mind, imagination and senses, stories can bring us excitement and wonder, making us laugh and cry, feel, dream, love, hope and think. They have the power to encourage, motivate, educate and heal--and they can help us better understand and relate to others and this world we're all a part of. I've always been aware of the power of storytelling. I had always read and drawn pictures I imagined from the time I was 6 or 7 years old. I could often be a bit of a precocious and unsociable kid. While everyone else was out playing I would be sitting in my room, pencil, paper, coloring book and crayons in my hand, creating new worlds and characters and setting them off on all kinds of epic adventures. I actually was often assigned to babysit my siblings and cousins when I was still in primary school! I kept them on track by telling them stories like *Ibong Adarna* and "The Creation of Man from Clay." I was a born storyteller. I always knew that I had stories inside of me; stories that I wanted to be able to tell and share with the world. I would have become a writer had I not gone into teaching. As I grew up and started learning the craft of telling good stories. I was determined to find of exactly *why* stories matter to us. Why do human beings have this innate compulsion to tell stories and why do we love hearing, reading and watching them? **An aspect of human nature**. What I came to realize was that storytelling plays a vital role in human culture, and it always has. You might even say it's part of our very nature. According to cognitive scientist Roger Schank: *"Humans are not ideally set up to understand logic; they are ideally set up to understand stories."* So storytelling is basically hard-wired into us. It's one way in which we understand and process reality. Stories aren't merely for the purpose of entertainment. They actually have the power to change the world and change *us*. The art of storytelling has been a key part of human culture as far back as we know. As Ursula Le Guin says: *"The story is one of the basic tools invented by the human mind for the purpose of understanding. There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories."* **Ancient stories**. Ancient cave paintings are believed to be the earliest records of mythology. They were essentially narratives created by early man in an attempt to understand and explain the nature of life, the world, animals, nature and the mystery of existence. Language is a relatively recent development in human evolution, so the earliest stories weren't spoken or told in words, but most likely enacted and danced. In fact a number of cultures still do this such as Native Americans and other indigenous tribes. The cave paintings weren't just created for the sake of it or to make the caves look decorative, but were believed to have been records, reminders and prompts to keep the tribe's stories and myths alive. **Myth and mythology is the world's oldest form of storytelling.** Today the word 'myth' has come to mean something that's false or untrue; a fabrication or lie. But the word stems from the Greek word 'mythos' which means story or tale. **Myth is a story or set of stories holding significant symbolic meaning for a particular culture.** As language developed, myths were generally delivered by word of mouth through speech, conversation or song. It's only comparatively recently, in the past few centuries that they came to be recorded in the written word. **The purpose of myth is to help us make sense of the universe and our place in it.** These myths might be based on factual accounts of events, discoveries and realisations, but were more often deeply metaphorical and filled with symbolic meaning. In other words, myths aren't literal accounts of truth, but are stories with lots of hidden meaning. To understand them, you have to look beneath the surface and peel away the layers of meaning. The ancient myths often featured various gods and goddesses, demigods, supernatural heroes and ordinary humans, as in the ancient Greek myths. The Greek and Roman myths in particular had an enormous effect in shaping their respective cultures. The exploits of the gods and their adventures were almost akin to a modern day soap opera. The people were enthralled and spellbound, and the myths themselves served a number of important societal functions. **Discussion Point:** **Answer the following questions within two weeks of reading Unit.1. Check writing policy in your course outline. Upload your answer in the Google Classroom folder. Answer directly and to the point. Each discussion is given10 points.** 1\. How does mythology relate to folklore? 2\. Knowing such relationship between the two disciplines, what preparation would you make in dealing with the course Mythology and Folklore? 3\. How do the myths differentiate between human and divine power? 4\. How do myths account for natural events? 5\. Define the term \'folklore\' from your own perspective. Be clear about what does and does not constitute folklore in your view, and what criteria are you using to decide. Then, offer a few different examples and counterexamples to support the definition you have offered up. 6 What do you see as the similarities and differences among folktales, fairy tales, legends, and myths? Are these actually just different words for the same phenomenon, or do they constitute different kinds of genres? Be specific in your explanation, offering examples that support whichever perspective you take. 7\. Why do you think myths and folk tales have played such an important role in human history, across cultures and time? Write about at least three different reasons you can think of, justifying them with evidence from folklore. 8\. Discuss the differences between pure myth, heroic saga, the folk tale, the romance, and the symbolic tale. Give an example of each type. 9\. Why do men give human traits and motives to the gods? 1o. Are gods usually personified natural elements, such as fire, water, wind, etc.? Or are they beings that manipulate nature? Explain **Reflection:** **Show in your JOURNAL your intuitive understanding on the two questions. Write the date when you answered. It should be after you have read the Unit. Your answer can be in the form of an essay, song lyric, poem, drawing, collage, meme, mash-up, quotation, etc.** - How can we explore and learn to protect and conserve the folkloric, archaeological, built, ethnic and environmental heritage of a nation? - What is one thing you believe you can learn about human nature from reading or listening to folklore? Explain what this phenomenon is and how you feel it plays out in daily life? **Summary:** This unit defined mythology as a study of myths. It distinguished myth from folklore, epic, fairy tale and legend. Whereas myth has at its core the origins of a people and is often sacred, folklore is a collection of fictional tales about people or animals. Superstitions and unfounded beliefs are important elements in the folklore tradition. Types of myths studied in mythology are the pure, myths that talk about Gods and goddesses; epics or sagas, which talk about heroic tales and legends, explaining the origin of things. Mythology exist to explain reasons why to ancient men. They are stories told as symbols of fundamental truths within societies having strong oral traditions. Mythology plays an important role is because it becomes a foundation for a lot of religions that are practiced. These particular myths are stories that tell us about battles between good and evil. Every religion has stories like that, both ancient and modern. But myths and folklores are more than mere stories and they serve a more profound purpose in ancient and modern cultures. They are sacred tales that explain the world and man\'s experience. They are as relevant to us today as they were to the ancients. They answer timeless questions and serve as a compass to each generation. Themes, motif, and archetypes in mythology come in varied forms. A theme is the inferred stance taken on the central topic or message of a myth like powerful Gods and Goddesses. Motif is a recurring structure, object, or literary device in mythology like a hero's journey. It is an archetype which is a universal symbolic pattern. Theories used to study mythology are divided into ancient and modern ways. Myths and folklores as traditions of the people are not invented, they are experienced. It is an aspect of orally transmitted tradition among various peoples of the world and form part and parcel of the history of the people. **Assessment of Learning** **Do the essay answer in separate sheets. Each sheet must have your name and should show the question to be answered.** 1\. Choose an archetype, and compare and contrast the traditional characteristics with a modern example. Use the Hand-out Archetype in Unit 1 as guide. Retype your answer in another sheet. 2\. Consider the argument that **folk music** is actually part of a **culture\'s folklore.** Determine whether or not you agree with this statement. Then, write a 150-word persuasive essay that attempts to convince readers of your point of view. 3\. Write a 150 essay describing at least three reasons why it might matter for a person to study the myths and folklore associated with their cultural traditions. Be as specific as you can, using examples to show why each of the reasons you are talking about matters. **References:** Bulfinch, T. Bulfinch\'s Mythology. Vintage Books, 2009 Campbell, Joseph. *The Mythic Dimension: Selected Essays* (1959--1987). Novato, California: New World Library, 2007. Hamilton, E. *Mythology*. Scribner\'s Publishing, 1998. Leeming, David. *Mythology: World of Culture.* New York, USA: Newsweek Books, 1977. Morford, Mark P. and Lenardon, Robert J. *Classical Mythology*. New York, USA: Oxford University Press, 2003 Pinch, G. *Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt*. Oxford University Press, 2004 Mythology: Myths, Legends and Fantasies. Global Book Publishing, Australia. 2003 The Young People's Guide toWorld Mythology. Kingfisher, New York.1994 Citation links used in the module: [[https://www.infinithink.org/2015/04/let-reviewer-in-english-literature-2.html]](https://www.infinithink.org/2015/04/let-reviewer-in-english-literature-2.html) [[https://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum211/CoursePack/culture.htm]](https://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum211/CoursePack/culture.htm) [[https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/amani.francis/engl-2343-125/ENGL%202343-125%20Mythology%20and%20Folklore%20Syllabus.pdf]](https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/amani.francis/engl-2343-125/ENGL%202343-125%20Mythology%20and%20Folklore%20Syllabus.pdf) [[https://www.ancient.eu/mythology/]](https://www.ancient.eu/mythology/) [[https://www.sfu.ca/\~egan/AERA-Mythto.html]](https://www.sfu.ca/~egan/AERA-Mythto.html) [[https://vlacs.org/competencies/mythology-and-folklore/]](https://vlacs.org/competencies/mythology-and-folklore/) [[https://www.slideshare.net/RichardBanez/myth-mythology-and-folklore?from\_action=save]](https://www.slideshare.net/RichardBanez/myth-mythology-and-folklore?from_action=save) [[file:///C:/Users/COE/Downloads/mythmythologyandfolklore-160407062020.pdf]](about:blank) [[http://eindtijdinbeeld.nl/EiBBibliotheek/Boeken/Encyclopedia%20of%20Mythology%20and%20Folklore%20(2008)%20-%20Storytelling.pdf]](http://eindtijdinbeeld.nl/EiBBibliotheek/Boeken/Encyclopedia%20of%20Mythology%20and%20Folklore%20(2008)%20-%20Storytelling.pdf). [[https://parade.com/1056247/marynliles/mythical-creatures/]](https://parade.com/1056247/marynliles/mythical-creatures/) [[https://dreamlightfugitive.wordpress.com/2015/07/02/the-power-of-storytelling-and-mythology/]](https://dreamlightfugitive.wordpress.com/2015/07/02/the-power-of-storytelling-and-mythology/) [[https://www.csus.edu/indiv/d/duboisj/wm/wm\_msr.html]](https://www.csus.edu/indiv/d/duboisj/wm/wm_msr.html)