PROVERBS, LEGENDS, MYTHS

Proverbs• Oral

Culture• Riddles• Describe

cultural concepts

• Can change over time

Legends•Story presumed to be true•Based of historical events•Not sacred but famous

Myths•Sacred stories•Explain the world•Concep-tualize reality•Open-ended if it is true or not

GREEK HEROESTypes, Stages, Initiation

BEING A HERO

Special circumstances surrounding birth Undergoing Trials Embarking on a Quest Using strengths and help from the gods Often becoming a king or winning the hand

of the daughter of a king

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEROES

Theseus Hercules Jason Superman? ?

Perseus Odysseus Bellophoron Batman? ?

Brute Strength Intelligence/Wit

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEROES

Presumed son of a God, but actually son of a king

Lifts boulder Beats up:

Periphetes, Sinis, Sciron, Procustes, Minotaur

Kidnaps Hyppolyta

Born of Zeus and Danae

Given tools by the gods: helmet, winged shoes, pouch

Tricks Graeae sisters Kills Gorgon in her

sleep Petrifies rowdy crowd

of men

Theseus Perseus

A HERO’S LIFEArchetype of the hero:

The Heroic Pattern

EARLY LIFE: CONFLICT OF BIRTH

Hero’s mother is a virgin Father is a king or a god (or rumors of both) Oracles dictate that he will kill a significant

personality (father or grandfather) He is reared far away from home or by foster

parents

YOUNG ADULTHOOD

Finds out about birth origins Returns home Or: is captured by enemy Trials often involved

QUEST: THE LIMINAL STAGE

Quest has an important purpose Travels to the ends of the Earth Finds women are a danger to his success Gains a guide, or friendly god on his side Must defeat several enemies/monsters with

magical tools provided Often, there’s a journey to the Underworld

RETURN HOME

Becomes a king Gets the girlOR Loses favor with gods or subjects Mysterious death

INITIATION INTO MANHOODFour stages of Jung

FOUR STAGES

Reintegration

Trials

Liminality

Separation

FOUR STAGES