Myth and language Skills

Myth and Language SkillsMyth and Language Skills

Babu AppatBabu [email protected]

www.appadan.blogspot.comwww.appadan.blogspot.com

What is Mythology?What is Mythology?

The term "The term "mythologymythology" can refer either to " can refer either to the the studystudy of myths (e.g., of myths (e.g.,

comparative mythology), or to a), or to abody or body or collectioncollection of myths (a of myths (a mythosmythos, e.g., , e.g.,

Inca mythology). In ). In folkloristics, a , a mythmyth is a is a sacrednarrative usually explaining how the usually explaining how the

world or humankind came to be in its present world or humankind came to be in its present form, although, in a very broad sense, the form, although, in a very broad sense, the

word can refer to any word can refer to any traditional story. .


Bruce Lincoln defines myth as "ideology in Bruce Lincoln defines myth as "ideology in narrative form". narrative form".

Myths may arise as either truthful Myths may arise as either truthful depictions or over-elaborated accounts of depictions or over-elaborated accounts of

historical events, as allegory for historical events, as allegory for or personification of natural phenomena, or as or personification of natural phenomena, or as an explanation of ritual. They are transmitted to an explanation of ritual. They are transmitted to

convey religious or idealized experience, to convey religious or idealized experience, to establish behavioral models, and to teach.establish behavioral models, and to teach.


a. a. A body or collection of myths belonging to A body or collection of myths belonging to a people and addressing their origin, a people and addressing their origin,

history, deities, ancestors, and heroes.history, deities, ancestors, and heroes.

b. b. A body of myths associated with an A body of myths associated with an event, individual, or institution:event, individual, or institution:

Great Mythologies of the WorldGreat Mythologies of the World

Greek MythologyGreek Mythology

Roman MythologyRoman Mythology

Indian MythologyIndian Mythology

Greek MythologyGreek Mythology

The body of traditional tales concerning the The body of traditional tales concerning the gods, heroes, and rituals of the ancient gods, heroes, and rituals of the ancient

Greeks. Greeks.

Critical Greeks, such as Plato in the 5th-4th Critical Greeks, such as Plato in the 5th-4th century BCE, recognized the considerable century BCE, recognized the considerable element of fiction in the myths, although in element of fiction in the myths, although in general the Greeks viewed them as true general the Greeks viewed them as true

accountsaccounts

Roman MythologyRoman Mythology

Roman mythologyRoman mythology is the body of traditional is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in origins and religious system, as represented in

the literature and visual arts of the Romans. the literature and visual arts of the Romans. "Roman mythology" may also refer to the "Roman mythology" may also refer to the

modern study of these representations, and to modern study of these representations, and to the subject matter as represented in the the subject matter as represented in the

literature and art of other cultures in any period literature and art of other cultures in any period

Indian MythologyIndian Mythology

Indian epic poetryIndian epic poetry

Vedic mythologyVedic mythology

Hindu mythologyHindu mythology

Buddhist mythologyBuddhist mythology

Jaina PhilosophyJaina Philosophy

Native American mythologyNative American mythology

Hindu MythologyHindu Mythology

Hindu mythologyHindu mythology is a large body of traditional is a large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, (such as the contained in Sanskrit literature, (such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas) and other Sanskrit epics and the Puranas) and other religious regional literature of South Asia. religious regional literature of South Asia.

Vedic MythologyVedic Mythology

Vedic mythologyVedic mythology refers to the mythological refers to the mythological aspects of the historical Vedic aspects of the historical Vedic religion and Vedic literature, most notably religion and Vedic literature, most notably alluded to in the hymns of the Rigveda alluded to in the hymns of the Rigveda

I will tell you a STORYI will tell you a STORY

Once upon a time, a long time ago there Once upon a time, a long time ago there lived a beautiful maiden named Medusa. lived a beautiful maiden named Medusa. Medusa lived in the city of Athens in a Medusa lived in the city of Athens in a country named Greece -- and although country named Greece -- and although there were many pretty girls in the city, there were many pretty girls in the city, Medusa was considered the loveliest Medusa was considered the loveliest

Unfortunately, Medusa was very proud of Unfortunately, Medusa was very proud of her beauty and thought or spoke of little her beauty and thought or spoke of little else. Each day she boasted of how pretty else. Each day she boasted of how pretty she was and each day her boasts became she was and each day her boasts became more outrageous more outrageous

On Sunday, Medusa bragged to the On Sunday, Medusa bragged to the miller that her skin was more miller that her skin was more

beautiful than fresh fallen snow beautiful than fresh fallen snow

On Monday, she told the cobbler On Monday, she told the cobbler that her hair glowed brighter than that her hair glowed brighter than

the sun. the sun.

On Tuesday, she commented to the On Tuesday, she commented to the blacksmith’s son that her eyes were blacksmith’s son that her eyes were

greener than the Aegean Sea. greener than the Aegean Sea.

On Wednesday, she boasted to On Wednesday, she boasted to everyone at the public gardens everyone at the public gardens that her lips were redder than that her lips were redder than

the reddest rose the reddest rose

When she wasn’t busy sharing When she wasn’t busy sharing her thoughts about her beauty her thoughts about her beauty

with all who passed by, Medusa with all who passed by, Medusa would gaze lovingly at her would gaze lovingly at her

reflection in the mirror reflection in the mirror

She admired herself in her hand She admired herself in her hand mirror for an hour each morning mirror for an hour each morning as she brushed her hair. She as she brushed her hair. She

admired herself in her darkened admired herself in her darkened window for an hour each evening window for an hour each evening

as she got ready for bed. as she got ready for bed.

She even stopped to admire She even stopped to admire herself in the well each herself in the well each

afternoon as she drew water for afternoon as she drew water for her father's horses -- often her father's horses -- often

forgetting to fetch the water in forgetting to fetch the water in her distraction. her distraction.

On and on Medusa went about On and on Medusa went about her beauty to anyone and her beauty to anyone and

everyone who stopped long everyone who stopped long enough to hear her -- until one enough to hear her -- until one day when she made her first day when she made her first

visit to the Parthenon with her visit to the Parthenon with her friends friends

The Parthenon was the largest The Parthenon was the largest temple to the goddess Athena in temple to the goddess Athena in

all the land. It was decorated all the land. It was decorated with amazing sculptures and with amazing sculptures and

paintings. paintings.

. Everyone who entered was awed . Everyone who entered was awed by the beauty of the place and by the beauty of the place and couldn’t help but think of how couldn’t help but think of how grateful they were to Athena, grateful they were to Athena,

goddess of wisdom, for inspiring goddess of wisdom, for inspiring them and for watching over their them and for watching over their

city of Athens. city of Athens.

Everyone, that is, except Medusa. Everyone, that is, except Medusa.

When Medusa saw the sculptures, When Medusa saw the sculptures, she whispered that she would have she whispered that she would have made a much better subject for the made a much better subject for the

sculptor than Athena had. sculptor than Athena had.

When Medusa saw the artwork, she When Medusa saw the artwork, she commented that the artist had done commented that the artist had done a fine job considering the goddess's a fine job considering the goddess's thick eyebrows -- but imagine how thick eyebrows -- but imagine how much more wonderful the painting much more wonderful the painting would be if it was of someone as would be if it was of someone as

delicate as Medusa. delicate as Medusa.

And when Medusa reached the And when Medusa reached the altar she sighed happily and said, altar she sighed happily and said, “My this is a beautiful temple. It is “My this is a beautiful temple. It is a shame it was wasted on Athena a shame it was wasted on Athena for I am so much prettier than she for I am so much prettier than she is – perhaps some day people will is – perhaps some day people will build an even grander temple to build an even grander temple to

my beauty my beauty

Medusa’s friends grew pale. Medusa’s friends grew pale. The priestesses who overheard The priestesses who overheard

Medusa gasped Medusa gasped

Whispers ran through all the people Whispers ran through all the people in the temple who quickly began to in the temple who quickly began to

leave -- for everyone knew that leave -- for everyone knew that Athena enjoyed watching over the Athena enjoyed watching over the people of Athens and feared what people of Athens and feared what might happen if the goddess had might happen if the goddess had

overheard Medusa’s rash remarks overheard Medusa’s rash remarks

Before long the temple was empty Before long the temple was empty of everyone except Medusa, who of everyone except Medusa, who was so busy gazing proudly at her was so busy gazing proudly at her reflection in the large bronze doors reflection in the large bronze doors

that she hadn't noticed the swift that she hadn't noticed the swift departure of everyone else departure of everyone else

The image she was gazing at The image she was gazing at wavered and suddenly, instead wavered and suddenly, instead of her own features, it was the of her own features, it was the

face of Athena that Medusa saw face of Athena that Medusa saw reflected back at her reflected back at her

““Vain and foolish girl,” Athena Vain and foolish girl,” Athena said angrily, “You think you are said angrily, “You think you are prettier than I am! I doubt it to prettier than I am! I doubt it to be true, but even if it were -- be true, but even if it were --

there is more to life than beauty there is more to life than beauty alone. While others work and alone. While others work and play and learn, you do little but play and learn, you do little but

boast and admire yourself boast and admire yourself

Medusa tried to point out that Medusa tried to point out that her beauty was an inspiration to her beauty was an inspiration to those around her and that she those around her and that she

made their lives better by simply made their lives better by simply looking so lovely, but Athena looking so lovely, but Athena silenced her with a frustrated silenced her with a frustrated

wave wave

Nonsense,” Athena retorted, Nonsense,” Athena retorted, “Beauty fades swiftly in all “Beauty fades swiftly in all

mortals. It does not comfort the mortals. It does not comfort the sick, teach the unskilled or feed sick, teach the unskilled or feed the hungry. And by my powers, the hungry. And by my powers, your loveliness shall be stripped your loveliness shall be stripped

away completely. Your fate away completely. Your fate shall serve as a reminder to shall serve as a reminder to others to control their pride others to control their pride

And with those words Medusa’s And with those words Medusa’s face changed to that of a face changed to that of a

hideous monster. Her hair hideous monster. Her hair twisted and thickened into twisted and thickened into

horrible snakes that hissed and horrible snakes that hissed and fought each other atop her head fought each other atop her head

Medusa, for your pride this has Medusa, for your pride this has been done. Your face is now so been done. Your face is now so terrible to behold that the mere terrible to behold that the mere

sight of it will turn a man to sight of it will turn a man to stone,” proclaimed the goddess, stone,” proclaimed the goddess, “Even you, Medusa, should you “Even you, Medusa, should you seek your reflection, shall turn seek your reflection, shall turn

to rock the instant you see your to rock the instant you see your face face

And with that, Athena sent And with that, Athena sent Medusa with her hair of snakes Medusa with her hair of snakes to live with the blind monsters -- to live with the blind monsters -- the gorgon sisters -- at the ends the gorgon sisters -- at the ends

of the earth, so that no of the earth, so that no innocents would be accidentally innocents would be accidentally

turned to stone at the sight of turned to stone at the sight of her her

Odysseus UlyssesOdysseus Ulysses

PhosporusPhosporus Lucifer Lucifer YamaYama

Zeus Jupiter Zeus Jupiter IndraIndra

Asclepius Asclepius AesculapiusAesculapius

Athena MinervaAthena Minerva

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

BABU APPATBABU [email protected]@gmail.comj

www.psychotricks.webs.comwww.psychotricks.webs.comwww.thepleasuresofteaching.webs.comwww.thepleasuresofteaching.webs.com

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Myth and language Skills