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The Functions of The Functions of Myth Myth

The functions of myth

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Page 1: The functions of myth

The Functions of The Functions of MythMyth

Page 2: The functions of myth

There are almost as many definitions for There are almost as many definitions for myth as there are mythologists. myth as there are mythologists.

In addition, mythologists give varying In addition, mythologists give varying reasons for the existence of myth.reasons for the existence of myth.

Modern society terms the lives and Modern society terms the lives and reputations of celebrities such as Marilyn reputations of celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis as “mythical.” While these Monroe and Elvis as “mythical.” While these people are far from mythic, our society has people are far from mythic, our society has changed the meaning of the word to meet changed the meaning of the word to meet our standards.our standards.

Page 3: The functions of myth

Barry PowellBarry Powell

Powell traces the history of myth, saying we Powell traces the history of myth, saying we should not confuse myth with religion. should not confuse myth with religion.

The ancients didn’t have a word for myth, The ancients didn’t have a word for myth, per se, but “myth” is derived from the Greek per se, but “myth” is derived from the Greek “muthos,” meaning a narration or story (or at “muthos,” meaning a narration or story (or at least by Homer’s time, circa 700 BCE). The least by Homer’s time, circa 700 BCE). The stories were not necessarily fantastical, but stories were not necessarily fantastical, but were considered historical accounts (4).were considered historical accounts (4).

Powell seems to ignore the evolution of Powell seems to ignore the evolution of language and how cultures interpret and language and how cultures interpret and reinterpret the meanings of words.reinterpret the meanings of words.

Page 4: The functions of myth

One definition of “true” myth—by One definition of “true” myth—by most mythologists—is that myths most mythologists—is that myths are anonymous, having no known are anonymous, having no known author, but there are exceptions author, but there are exceptions to this rule. Robert Graves says to this rule. Robert Graves says that Hesiod composed the tale of that Hesiod composed the tale of Pandora, but her tale is widely Pandora, but her tale is widely accepted as a “myth” because of accepted as a “myth” because of the definition modern humans the definition modern humans use.use.

Page 5: The functions of myth

Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell

Campbell explains that myth is the Campbell explains that myth is the path to self understanding by path to self understanding by establishing a connection with the establishing a connection with the past. Without this connection, we past. Without this connection, we must rediscover old myths or make must rediscover old myths or make our own (9). our own (9).

Myths help deal with our reality; they Myths help deal with our reality; they are tales to live by. They are the are tales to live by. They are the dreams of the world (19).dreams of the world (19).

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Campbell’s Functions Campbell’s Functions of Mythof Myth

1. Myth is mystical, giving a sense 1. Myth is mystical, giving a sense of wonder and mystery to the of wonder and mystery to the universe. The mystery makes universe. The mystery makes the universe a holy picture, the universe a holy picture, giving us a sense of awe and the giving us a sense of awe and the desire to know more; myth desire to know more; myth attempts to explain the mystery.attempts to explain the mystery.

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2. Myth is cosmological: the element of 2. Myth is cosmological: the element of science, explaining how the universe science, explaining how the universe works. The mystery remains, though, works. The mystery remains, though, because when we light a match, we because when we light a match, we can talk about oxidation, but that can talk about oxidation, but that really doesn’t explain it to most really doesn’t explain it to most people. i.e. we know how conception people. i.e. we know how conception and birth takes place, but the sense of and birth takes place, but the sense of mystery about life remains.mystery about life remains.

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3. Myth is sociological; it gives us a 3. Myth is sociological; it gives us a sense of belonging and validates sense of belonging and validates our social order, giving us our social order, giving us ethical laws to live by. The ethical laws to live by. The Jewish Ten Commandments Jewish Ten Commandments (adapted from earlier laws) is an (adapted from earlier laws) is an example.example.

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4. Myth has a pedagogical function; it 4. Myth has a pedagogical function; it

tells us how to live a human lifetime tells us how to live a human lifetime

under any circumstances. It gives usunder any circumstances. It gives us

lessons on how to behave and lessons on how to behave and

connects us with people in the past connects us with people in the past

who had similar problems or who had similar problems or

situations (38-39). situations (38-39).

Page 10: The functions of myth

J. F. BierleinJ. F. Bierlein

Bierlein’s definition or explanation Bierlein’s definition or explanation of myth is much like Campbell’s. of myth is much like Campbell’s. The following criteria is found in The following criteria is found in Bierlein’s book on page 5.Bierlein’s book on page 5.

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1. Myth is a constant among all 1. Myth is a constant among all human beings in all times. All human beings in all times. All societies have a mythos.societies have a mythos.

2. Myth is a telling of events that 2. Myth is a telling of events that happened before written history, happened before written history, and a sense of what is to come. and a sense of what is to come.

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3. Myth is a unique use of 3. Myth is a unique use of language language

[. . .] linking us between the [. . .] linking us between the conscious and the unconscious. conscious and the unconscious. It deals with the supernatural It deals with the supernatural and with deity.and with deity.

4. Myth is the glue holding 4. Myth is the glue holding societies together.societies together.

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5. Myth is essential in all codes of 5. Myth is essential in all codes of moral conduct (Sociological).moral conduct (Sociological).

6. Myth gives us patterns of belief 6. Myth gives us patterns of belief that give meaning to life that give meaning to life (Pedagogical). (Pedagogical).

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Different Types of Different Types of MythMyth

Myth serves various functions Myth serves various functions within a culture. Different myths within a culture. Different myths exhibit these different functions.exhibit these different functions.

There are three basic types of There are three basic types of myth—they overlap, however, myth—they overlap, however, and are often not singular.and are often not singular.

Page 15: The functions of myth

1. Myth explains how things came 1. Myth explains how things came into being and why and/or how into being and why and/or how the world around us works; i.e. the world around us works; i.e. thunder and lightning is Zeus or thunder and lightning is Zeus or Thor throwing the bolts. This is Thor throwing the bolts. This is Campbell’s cosmological Campbell’s cosmological function.function.

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2. Historical allegory: Zeus and 2. Historical allegory: Zeus and Hera’s marriage symbolizes the Hera’s marriage symbolizes the combining of two cultures. The combining of two cultures. The ancients did not write a ancients did not write a historical account of the historical account of the Pelasgians being conquered by Pelasgians being conquered by Aryan invaders, but their myth Aryan invaders, but their myth reflects the subjugation.reflects the subjugation.

Page 17: The functions of myth

In the book In the book When They Severed When They Severed Earth from Sky: How the Human Earth from Sky: How the Human Mind Shapes Myth, Mind Shapes Myth, Barbara and Barbara and Paul Barber assert that most (if Paul Barber assert that most (if not all) myths are allegorical not all) myths are allegorical representations of an actual eventrepresentations of an actual event—we just have to sift out the —we just have to sift out the fantastical to get to the historical.fantastical to get to the historical.

Page 18: The functions of myth

3. Myth touches on themes of 3. Myth touches on themes of human conditions that do not human conditions that do not change. We experience the change. We experience the same problems and joys that our same problems and joys that our ancestors experienced.ancestors experienced.

Page 19: The functions of myth

A myth such as that of Persephone’s A myth such as that of Persephone’s abduction incorporates all three of the abduction incorporates all three of the different kinds of myth.different kinds of myth.

On a basic level, it explains the On a basic level, it explains the establishment of winter.establishment of winter.

It is historical allegory, chronicling a It is historical allegory, chronicling a shift from a matrifocal culture where shift from a matrifocal culture where women have status, to a patrifocal women have status, to a patrifocal culture where women are property.culture where women are property.

Page 20: The functions of myth

The myth also timelessly The myth also timelessly demonstrates the power and demonstrates the power and sorrow of motherly love. sorrow of motherly love. Demeter cannot protect her Demeter cannot protect her daughter from the dangers of the daughter from the dangers of the world, yet she never gives up in world, yet she never gives up in her quest to save Persephone.her quest to save Persephone.

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Other Enduring Other Enduring ThemesThemes

Myth reflects human desires and Myth reflects human desires and needs. These desires, like needs. These desires, like motherly love, do not change motherly love, do not change much. They do, however, adapt much. They do, however, adapt to fit a culture or a time epoch.to fit a culture or a time epoch.

Page 22: The functions of myth

The Male MotherThe Male Mother

Men have never been able to give Men have never been able to give birth, yet many myths deal with birth, yet many myths deal with men bringing forth life.men bringing forth life.

Zeus is a male mother at least Zeus is a male mother at least twice: he births Athene from his twice: he births Athene from his head and Dionysius from his head and Dionysius from his thigh.thigh.

Page 23: The functions of myth

Prometheus, also from the Prometheus, also from the Greeks, made men (not women) Greeks, made men (not women) from clay. He was a good father from clay. He was a good father who suffered to benefit his who suffered to benefit his offspring.offspring.

Yahweh creates Adam, then Yahweh creates Adam, then causes Adam to “birth” Eve from causes Adam to “birth” Eve from his rib.his rib.

Page 24: The functions of myth

In Norse myth, the frost giant Ymir In Norse myth, the frost giant Ymir produces the first man and woman produces the first man and woman from his left armpit.from his left armpit.

In modern times, science seeks to In modern times, science seeks to create life in a test tube, to create create life in a test tube, to create an artificial womb, and to eventually an artificial womb, and to eventually clone people (a uterus is still needed clone people (a uterus is still needed for gestation—at this point!).for gestation—at this point!).

Page 25: The functions of myth

The Search for The Search for ImmortalityImmortality

Humans want to live forever—don’t Humans want to live forever—don’t you? Interestingly, deities from you? Interestingly, deities from early myth were as mortal as early myth were as mortal as humans: Osiris, Inanna, and other humans: Osiris, Inanna, and other gods die and go to the underworld. gods die and go to the underworld. There has long existed the belief in There has long existed the belief in an underworld or afterlife, but an underworld or afterlife, but humans have sought to live forever humans have sought to live forever in their earthly form.in their earthly form.

Page 26: The functions of myth

In the first epic poem, Gilgamesh In the first epic poem, Gilgamesh from Sumeria seeks the secret for from Sumeria seeks the secret for immortality when he talks to his immortality when he talks to his friend, Enkidu, through a hole in friend, Enkidu, through a hole in the ground after Enkidu’s the ground after Enkidu’s untimely death. Kur, the untimely death. Kur, the underworld, is a gray place where underworld, is a gray place where joy is not known.joy is not known.

Page 27: The functions of myth

The quest for immortality in a The quest for immortality in a human body is superseded when human body is superseded when the promise of paradise becomes the promise of paradise becomes fairly available to the common fairly available to the common person.person.

Instead of living forever on earth, Instead of living forever on earth, the desire becomes to live forever the desire becomes to live forever in a paradise such as heaven.in a paradise such as heaven.

Page 28: The functions of myth

Science, often antagonistic or Science, often antagonistic or diametrically opposed to religious diametrically opposed to religious faith, still seeks to allow humans to faith, still seeks to allow humans to live forever—or at least for a VERY live forever—or at least for a VERY long time.long time.

Humans freeze their bodies or brains Humans freeze their bodies or brains in order to be revived in the future in order to be revived in the future when there is a “cure” for death.when there is a “cure” for death.

Page 29: The functions of myth

Other people hope to download Other people hope to download their personalities into a their personalities into a computer chip and have in computer chip and have in inserted into a cloned or cyborg inserted into a cloned or cyborg body.body.

Page 30: The functions of myth

ArchetypesArchetypes

These collective desires of These collective desires of humanity that been in existence humanity that been in existence for centuries—along with visual for centuries—along with visual images—both are the images—both are the “archetypes” of Karl Jung.“archetypes” of Karl Jung.

Page 31: The functions of myth

Myth has evolved over the Myth has evolved over the centuries. Modern myths such as centuries. Modern myths such as Harry Potter often incorporate Harry Potter often incorporate aspects of ancient myths. They aspects of ancient myths. They continue to give us a sense of continue to give us a sense of wonder and continue basic tales wonder and continue basic tales such as the Dying and such as the Dying and Resurrected Deity.Resurrected Deity.

Page 32: The functions of myth

Personal MythPersonal Myth

In addition to the myth of a In addition to the myth of a culture, we also internalize and culture, we also internalize and personalize not only cultural personalize not only cultural mythos, but we create our own.mythos, but we create our own.

Dreams are often the vehicles for Dreams are often the vehicles for personal myth—we mythologize personal myth—we mythologize circumstances in our lives, as circumstances in our lives, as well.well.

Page 33: The functions of myth

And . . .And . . .

In this class, we will examine In this class, we will examine different types of myths and their different types of myths and their functions to see if they remain functions to see if they remain the same in various cultures.the same in various cultures.

Page 34: The functions of myth

Works CitedWorks Cited

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland and Paul T. Barber. Barber, Elizabeth Wayland and Paul T. Barber. When When they Severed Earth from Sky: How the Human Mind they Severed Earth from Sky: How the Human Mind Shapes MythShapes Myth. Princeton, NJ: 2004. Print.. Princeton, NJ: 2004. Print.

Bierlein, J.F. Bierlein, J.F. Parallel Myths. Parallel Myths. NY: Ballantine Books, NY: Ballantine Books, 1194. Print.1194. Print.

Campbell, Joseph. The Power of Myth. NY: Doubleday, Campbell, Joseph. The Power of Myth. NY: Doubleday, 1988. Print.1988. Print.

Powell, Barry B. Powell, Barry B. A Short Introduction to Classical MythA Short Introduction to Classical Myth. . Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2002. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2002. Print.Print.