mythology midterm exam
the psychotic
often display severe psychological problems -showcase some clear inner personality struggles -horror and suspense thriller genres because the fact that they are disturbed means they will clash with the protagonist, often in a violent and unpredictable fashion EX: the joker
flood myths
often exist in cultures that developed near water sources -can be destruction myths, but many are also creation myths -most might be inspired from mesopotamia flood myths
dark lord
opposite of heros. In stories with perfect heros or good vs evil -the personification of evil -will always have minions, henchmen, or underlings to carry out their orders EX: darth vader, voldemort, wicket witch of west
urban legend
oral story deeply rooted in popular culture, often with macabre elements (death or injury)
legend
oral story that, like a myth, is refined through repetition by one storyteller after another; however, a legend is usually associated with a *historical basis*
rome (ovid)
ovids "metamorphoses" type: ex nahilo
paratactic
places clauses and phrases one after another without coordinating or subordinating connectives EX: kids telling stories
destruction myths
ragnarok
the prodigy
some heroes are made, some are BORN -may start out unpromising but theres an undeniable potential there if the right circumstances can unlock it -has to learn everything and figure out what makes him or her special EX: luke skywalker, katniss everdeen
the beast
something thats unleashed, stumbled upon, or stalking with the intent to kill -unthinking, instincutual, unstoppable -horror or thriller genres EX: jaws, dinosaurs
the un-hero
somewhat similar to misfit except they rarely end up being a proper hero -normally in the wrong place at the wrong time and does more to hinder the cause of good/justice/world-saving than to help it EX: inspector gadget, mr furious
the bully
straightforward opposition to the protagonist, often for little to no reason beyond the psychological explanations as to why bullies do what they do -often a bully can be a stepping-stone villain meant to contrast a hero's before (being bullied) and after (dealing successfully with the bully) states -dramas and comedies EX: biff tannen(back to the future), the plastics (mean girls)
In star wars, luke receives fathers lightsaber from obi wan, whats the item considered
talisman
china--nu kwa
the first creator woman! --saved the world *very smart* -crafts people with tools type: deus faber
the tragic hero
these heroes are flawed, and those flaws often wind up leading our hero to his/her destruction -*byronic hero*: a rebellious character who has a troubled past and indulges in self-destructive behaviors that threaten to doom him/her EX: darth vader, hamlet, frankenstein
Characters like the orange jumpsuit wearing janitor in unbreakable, who stand in the way of hero are know as what
threshold guardians
iroquois league
type: earth-diver
africa (uganda and nigeria)
type: ex nihilo
mesopotamia ("enuma elish")
type: ex nihilo/division (world parent)
the misfit
unlikely hero isn't like everyone else -may be social outcast, member of different race or religion, have a disability -greatest types of heroes for young adult literature EX: harry potter, rudolph red nosed reindeer
the loner
usually begin story separated from rest of society -more comfortable in isolated places--solitude is hero natural state EX: indiana jones, incredible hulk
the anti-hero
when theres a job to be done and no hero around to do it -makes us question what a hero really is -not necessarily evil, but often lacks heroic virtues to a degree that cannot be overlooked -EX: batman, captain jack sparrow,
the machine
worse than the beast -most terrifying of villains because they're lifeless and have no emotion or feel pain -sci-fi genre EX: the terminator, ultra (from avengers)
north america
zuni/itopi/navajo type: emergence
Division or consummation creation myth
Making room for life EX: Polynesian
the "Greek Miracle" refers to what?
the fact that the greeks humanized their gods, giving theme human appearance, emotions and concerns
threshold guardians
Not full villians --when hero has to overcome something before the villain -some force that must be overcome by hero to get past -can be innanimate (a key to a door)
mesoamerica--popul vuh
"council book" -mayan culture (calendar, etc) type: ex nahilo *gods made mistakes*
iclandic/norse
"prose edda" type: accretion/sacrifice (world parent)
greek (hesoid)
"the theogony" and "works and days" type: ex nahilo (creation from chaos)
types of creation myths:
-*accretion or conjunction*: emphasizes "potency of primal matter" -*secretion*: focuses on creation of humans; humans coming from gods EX: spit, vomit, shit, etc -*sacrifice*: creation has a cost EX: horse -*division or consummation*: making room for life EX: world came from egg -*earth-diver*: miracle of birth; life emerging from smallest particle EX: turtle or something lives and gets mud and world is formed -*emergence*: evolution of humanity; humans as participants in creation EX: old world was too small so people find a hole into world -*2 creators*: hierarchies of life; higher and lower classes EX: twins -*deus faber*: wonders of nature, intricacy and complexity of life EX: build humans from tools CRAFTSMEN GOD -*el nihilo*
insights obtained from myths: (7)
-*psychological*: struggles of individuals to become mature human beings and useful members of society -*anthropological*: culture--values and principles of society -*social or sociological*: groups that people belong to or participate in--value s of group behavior; standards for admission -*metaphysical*: what it means to be human--characteristics and limitations of humans -*aetiological*: explaining origin or cause of custom or fact of physical universe -*cosmological*: universe as understood by best science available at the time -*historical*: verifiable historical events reflected in mythical stories
Ragnarok: (destruction myth)
-Icelandic/ Norse account for the end of the world -Many things are fated to happen: -Three harsh winters without summers -Sun and moon are swallowed -Surt (sometimes called Surtr) the Fire Giant and his army break Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge -Loki & Hyrm the giant arrive by a ship made from the fingernails of the dead -Heimdall blows his horn to wake the gods. -Spirits of dead warriors, the Einherjar, follow --Odin and the other gods into battle. -Odin is killed fighting Fenrir the wolf. -Frigg (Odin's wife) fights Surt. -Vidar, Odin's son, kills the wolf. -Thor kills the Midgard Serpent but is felled by its poison. -Loki and Heimdall kill each other. -Surt sets fire to the world. -Heaven and earth burn, and earth sinks into the sea. -Later, Baldr is reborn -The world is recreated and new races of gods and humans are born.
raven
-Native American spirit (mostly NW: Haida, Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Kwakiutl peoples) -Shapeshifter and can change others' shapes -Admired because of his strong spirit (similar to Coyote spirit in SW America) -"Ravenous" appetite -Causes his own birth; a girl swallows dirt and becomes pregnant with him -Steals light & fresh water -Teaches people about fire
Icelandic/ Norse (Prose Edda):
-Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson -Type: Accretion/ Sacrifice (World Parent) -Ymir, the first giant, came out of the meeting of hot (Muspell) and cold (Niflheim) -Audhumla the cow thaws from the ice & feeds Ymir -Giants born from Ymir's body, Audhumla frees Buri, who births people from his body (Bor & Bestla) -Bor & Bestla birth the first gods (Odin, Vili, & Ve) They slew Ymir and formed the world with his body: Ymir's blood = the sea Ymir's flesh = the earth Ymir's bones = the mountains Ymir's skull = the sky Ymir's hair = the trees Ymir's brains = the clouds
crossing of first threshold
-The heroes accept the Call and cross into the Special World -Threshold is sometimes crossed literally (i.e. through a window, door, or other opening) -The Special World is more dangerous and has its own set of rules, which must be learned EX: The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy follows the Yellow Brick Road and must learn the rules of Oz
supreme ordeal
-The heroes finally come to the primary obstacle they journeyed to overcome -Often involves the hero's "death" and subsequent "rebirth" --May be literal or figurative --The hero might actually be slain, or else be knocked unconscious, incapacitated, poisoned, mortally wounded, pulled underwater, or may simply disappear from sight for a time --Their "rebirth" may likewise be either actual or symbolic --May be an ally, mentor, or secondary hero who is "killed," forcing another hero to then take up the Call -The Quest may be fulfilled, but the Journey does not end
trickster
-The trickster is a special kind of hero found in myths -Not always a hero in the sense of a person you'd want to emulate, but it's always interesting and fun to watch a trickster snare the unwary in his/ her wiles
Nigeria: "The Origin of Death"
-This tale comes from the Bura people of Nigeria -The people are tricked by the lizard into performing the wrong death ritual -The people are complicit in the origin of death (they are lazy), so their fate is fair
China (Nü Kwa):
-Type: Deus Faber (Craftsman deity) -Nü Kwa (a goddess associated with "yin") creates people using tools and engineering -Her knowledge of engineering saves creation from destruction when a pillar that holds up the heavens is destroyed by Kung-Kung
characteristics of oral myth
-extensive repetition -abundance of NAMES AND TITLES -paratactic/syntactic storytelling
characteristics of oral myth:
-extensive repetition -abundance of names and titles -paratactic/syntactic storytelling
what mythology is NOT
-not necessarily false stories -not limited to stories about gods and heroes -purpose not limited to entertainment
characteristics of *written* myths
-the literary frame -goals of authors -rationalization of myth (make something more logical, by using a made-up reason
characteristics of written myth
-the literary frame--readers must take the authors style, themes, motifs, and perspective into account -goals of author--individual authors often shape their texts to better fit their artistic goals -rationalization of myth--make something more logical by adding a made-up reason
12 steps of the heros journey:
1. The Ordinary World 2. The Call to Adventure 3. The Refusal of the Quest 4. Supernatural Aid/ Meeting with the Mentor 5. Crossing the First Threshold/ Entering the Unknown 6. Tests/ Allies/ Helpers 7. Approach to the Inmost Cave/ In the Belly of the Whale 8. The Supreme Ordeal 9. The Ultimate Boon: Elixir Quest/ Seizing the Sword (Reward) 10. The Road Back 11. Resurrection 12. The Return with the Elixir/ Crossing the Return Threshold
Talisman:
A Special (and often magical) item(s) that assist the heroes on their quest.
mentor
A supernatural character who has mastered the laws of the outside world and come back to bestow this wisdom upon the heroes, and who often gives them the means to complete their quest.
postdiluvian
AFTER the flood
"how and why" tales such as "why the hare runs away", offer an explanation of a feature of our world. What aspect of myth is this?
Aetiological (explains how something got to be some way)
antediluvian
BEFORE the flood
herald
Brings adventure to hero (the call of adventure) EX: R2D2 (brings message), hagrid (harry potter)
call to adventure
Can be active or passive The hero or heroes must leave the Status Quo and enter the Special World EX: the tornado in wizard of oz
Zuni (Pueblo): Arizona/ Colorado
Our world is the fourth world, migrated toward by the two sons of the Sun Used their knives to cut the mouths, fingers, & "other" places for the people
sacrifice
Creation has a cost EX: Norse
Navajo (migrated to the Southwest US from northern Canada/ US)
Diné Bahané Air Spirit People flew from one colored world to another through holes
archetype
Discrete personality forms that represent recurring patterns of human behavior, symbolized by standard types of characters in movies and stories.
Accretion or conjunction creation myth
Emphasizes "potency of primal matter" EX: Mongolia
Mesopotamia (Enuma Elish):
Emuna Elish (the Epic of Creation) Type: Ex nihilo/ Division (World Parent) Marduk separates Tiamat's body into earth and sky
Emergence creation myth
Evolution of humanity; humans as participants in creation EX: Southwestern America
who's joseph campbell
Famous teacher and interpreter of mythology Wrote many books on the subject "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" (first published in 1949)
Two Creators creation myth
Hierarchies of life; higher and lower classes EX: Congo, Yoruba (Africa)
syntactic storytelling
includes logical connections and temporal indicators EX: *when* i was in the park, i saw a bird. *because* i chased it, it flew away.
prometheus
-A Titan from Greek mythology ("Forethought"), said to have created mankind -Is a trickster because he tricked Zeus into taking the bones & fat from the sacrifice, and he steals fire from the gods and gives it to mankind -Was punished by being chained to a rock, where an eagle tore his liver out daily
mastermind
-Genius but ruthless -Always 10moves ahead of the hero EX: Loki in the movie thor -brilliant character who oversees the whole diabolical plan that is in opposition to the hero's -doesn't physically oppose the hero -doesn't get hands dirty EX: lex luthor,
Mesoamerica (Popol Vuh):
-Mayan culture: Popol Vuh ("Council Book") -Type: Ex nihilo (creator Heart of Sky existed with nothing but the sea) -The gods fail several times at creating humans before they finally succeed making them out of corn
during the course of play "Oedipus rex," the main character does what?
Kills his father and marries his mother
Earth-diver creation myth
Miracle of birth; life emerging from the smallest particle EX: Many Native American myths
west African trickster spirit that often appeared in stories in the form of spider is called
anansi
An account for the final events of the history and or end of world is what?
eschatology
authority figure
example of how "evil" is defined int terms of context -represents opposition to a characters free will -more prevalent in comedies and dramas -ass holes EX: principal rooney
Who was forced to complete the 12 labors
hercules
ragnarok
icelandic/norse account for end of world -many things are fated to happen
syntactic
includes logical connections and temporal indicators EX: what we read every day
paratactic storytelling
storytelling that places clauses or phrases one after another without coordinating or subordinating connectives EX: I was in the park and i saw a bird and i chased it and it flew away
el nihilo
life as breath of god; word creating order out of chaos -most common EX: the Bible, pandoras box "nothingness"
the reluctant hero
many heroes don't begin their adventure wanting to be heroes--could be self doubt EX: spider-man, han solo, shrek
shapeshifters
misleads hero by hiding a characters intentions and loyalties -sufaces doubts and questions in the heres mind EX: catwoman, prof snape (harry potter)
Thors hammer is called
mjollnir
atlanta
Rare female hero in Greek/ Roman myth Would only marry if a man could beat her in a footrace
act 3:
Return Transformation & renewal
the femme fatal
Seductive, attractive, seduce hero, make hero "want to fall" -one of the most classic villian types -can work both sides of the conflict, can even come out as a protagonist in the end...or not
act 1:
Separation or Departure "Retreat from the World"
ordinary world
Status Quo Hero is often considered odd or out-of-place/ possesses some ability others lack May be of special birth Sometimes realizes things are "wrong" EX: dorthy in kansas
3 main religions in china:
Taoism (Yin & Yang) Confucianism Buddhism
approach to innermost cave
The hero approaches a dangerous place where the object of the quest lies hidden We are reminded that Crossing the Threshold is dangerous and could lead to death Often the heroes are "swallowed up," either literally or symbolically The Inmost Cave is often underground, dark, hellish, empty, nightmarish, or otherwise terrifying The heroes must confront their fears and overcome them EX: The Wizard of Oz: The Witch's Castle
ultimate boom
The hero may settle a conflict with his father or with his shadowy nemesis (Atonement with the Father) "Atonement" usually means defeating the father figure (or any male villain) and making him atone or pay for his past rejection of the hero
Liminality:
The state of being in between two stages of life, two communities, or two social statuses.
shadows
The villians/bad guys
mentors
This is the help EX: yoda, glinda (witch of the north in the wizard of oz) -the hero's guide or guiding principles -has often traveled the road before and can provide needed guidance to a hero who is reluctant to face the unknown -may often reward him with something EX:obi-wan kenobi, yoda
allies
To help hero Pick them up when theyre down EX: ron and hermini in harry potter
act 2:
Trials and Victories Initiations & temptations
Iroquois League (New York/ New England):
Type: Earth-Diver -Animals dove into the sea to pull up the earth so the falling Sky Woman had a place to land -Earth was grown from mud on the back of the Great Turtle
Secretion creation myth
Usually focuses on creation of humans; humans coming from the gods EX: Egypt (Heliopolis)
Deus faber (Latin: "craftsman god") creation myth
Wonder of nature; intricacy and complexity of life EX: China
mythology
a body of stories found in every culture, often either sacred stories handed down as a part of religions, or narratives that explain and define the great acts of nations and peoples
the heros journey
a monomyth -written by joseph campbell---famous teacher and interpreter of mythology
the perfect hero
a paragon of virtue--embodies everything good about humanity -the grown up boy scout -strong, uncompromising, selfless, kind, decisive, self-motivated EX: superman, captain america, tarzan
the literary frame
author's style, themes, perspectives, etc must be taken into account
monomyth
basically telling same stories for 1000s of years -narrative structure underlying all myths AKA the hero journey -links mythological heroic adventure to *rites of passage* -originally 17different "steps" in 3 acts -----act I=separation or departure -----act II=trials an victories -----act III= return
What was prometheus's punishment for stealing fire from gods and giving it to mankind
chained to rock and having an eagle pull is liver out daily
an account for the beginning of everything is what?
cosmogony
Creation myths stating that mankind was carefully crafted by a deity using tools, such as Chinese story of nu kwa are called BLANK myths
deus faber
the mirror
evenly matched in brains, brawn, and often even appearance, the mirror is the hero's equal in every way but one: ideals -may have opposite appearance -usually found in superhero, action and thriller genres EX: reverse flash,
