mythologyCreation Myths & Hero Myths

Identifying Myths

• traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes

• explains aspects of the natural world or the psychology, customs, or ideals of society

Types of Myths

• Origin/Creation Myths• Hero Myths• God Myths

Origin/Creation Myths– A story that discusses how aspects of the

Universe came to be, as viewed by a particular culture or group.

Common Elements/Purpose• Birth/Parental figures• Order from chaos• Characters are either deities, human-like

figures, or animals (use of archetypes)• Set in a non-specific past• Answer meaningful societal questions• Yields a culture’s worldview and framework

for cultural self-identity within a universal context

Archetypes• Myths, as well as other stories (both oral & written), often contain archetypes.• Definition: the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a

model or first form

Archetype Meaning/Synonym Example

Doppelganger

double; shadow; evil twin

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Females Mother Earth; Temptress; Maiden Hero; Damsel in Distress

Cinderella; Fairy Godmother; Lady Macbeth

Hero Epic Hero King Arthur; Beowulf

Anti-Hero Reluctant Hero Achilles; Hercules

Byronic Hero Tragic Hero Hamlet; Brutus

Sage Wise Mane; Mentor; Guide

Merlin; Glinda

Trickster Hermes

Villain Grendel; Hades

Creation Myth ProjectAfter reading sample creation myths and filling out the

creation mythchart, create an original creation myth.

It must include appropriate creation myth elements and be less than 4 paragraphs in

length.Choose from the following focus questions to guide your myth:1. Why does rain fall?2. Why do people dream?3. Where do stars come from?4. Where does the moon go during the day?5. Why do people sing/play instruments?6. Where did color come from?7. Why does the sun cross the sky?8. Why does the wind blow?9. Where did storytelling come from?10.Why is the ocean so “bi-polar” (turbulent AND

calm)?

Choose 2!

– Traditional heroes are almost always male.– The hero is usually a demi-god (half god), or has a god in his

family. – The hero has some kind of super-natural power or has the

strong support of a god. – The hero is usually on a quest. He has a task or a challenge

(or more than one) that an ordinary mortal could not carry out.

– The hero is always seeking fame, glory and, most importantly, honor. These are more important than life itself.

– The hero is braver, stronger, bolder and, sometimes, more clever than most men. He is close to the gods.

– The hero usually has a weakness (usually too much pride, AKA hubris, or a terrible temper). This can lead to problems for him and usually to his downfall.

Hero Myths

Hero background

1. Read the summaries of Jason, Hercules, and Perseus.

2. Take notes on each of the 3 Heroes using the chart in your packet

Hero Myth ProjectAfter reading about Hercules, Jason, and

Perseus, choose one hero you like best. In the computer lab, do

some moreresearch on this particular hero. Step 1:

Read at least 3 more stories that include this character to determine his character traits.

Step 2:

Create and hand in a list of 10-15 character traits (physical, emotional, personality, strengths, weaknesses) for your chosen hero.

Step 3:

Write a new myth involving your chosen hero. Pretend your hero is a student at Union High School. Choose a NORMAL high school event (math test, prom, lunch room fight, etc.). Your myth must expose the hero’s flaw(s) and character traits from your research.

Helpful Web Sitesfor your Hero Project

General:•http://www.mythweb.com/•http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/heroes/tp/TopHeroes.htm•http://www.theoi.com/greek-mythology/greek-gods.htmlHercules:•http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1998/2/98.02.06.x.html•http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/greece.htmJason:•http://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/myths.htmlPerseus:•http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/newquiz/blheroes1c.htm

Mythology Final Project

Directions: Each group will research a different type of mythology/mythological element, read myths from that lineage, and create a story that features elements from that type of myth/mythological element•The possibilities (you will pick from a hat) are:•Chinese Gods/Mythology•Mermaid Mythology•Medusa•Mount Olympus•Mythological Creatures•African Gods/Mythology