Mythology and Myth Elements

• A myth is humanity’s earliest imaginative attempt to explain the universe, its creation, and how it works.

Myth Elements:1. Myths try to answer the “big questions” all

societies have about where they come from and who created them; myths explain the unexplainable.

2. Myths are stories created to portray values important to a society and teach correct behavior to members of that society, revealing the way of life and thought of a culture.

3. Myths usually involve supernatural or imaginary people.

Myth Types

Myths of Origin: stories that explain the source or the creation of a world or people.

Transformation Myths: explain how certain ‑‑ mostly negative ‑‑ things came into this world.

Etiological myths: are stories which provide a mythological explanation for peculiar things in nature or certain events and customs of which the origin has long been forgotten.

Trickster/ Fire Theft Myths: stories, common in mythology, where a god or god‑like being or a culture hero, a part often played by a trickster, steals fire from the gods and presents it to mankind.

Myth Types con’t…

Hero Myths: portray human figures of such heroic dimensions that they seem to be like gods. This is often expressed by giving them a god or supernatural figure as either father or mother.

Why study myths?

Why study myths? con’t…

Mythology Murals Assignment

You have chosen your groups, now you are to select a myth at random from Ms. Howard and read the

selection from the folder booklets.

Please read your myth silently.

1. After reading your group’s myth, collect a piece of butcher paper from outside the media center.

2.Title your Mural with the name of your group’s myth.3.List Myth Elements and explain how your group’s

myth demonstrates each one. 4.Label what Type of Myth your group has and

explain why it 5.Draw a Visual that relates to your group’s myth.6.Use technology (phone/computer) to find any

Modern Connection or Allusions to your group’s myth.