![]() The hero confronts trials and tribulations in the initiation. The hero’s journey myth consists of a hero progressing through stages broken up into separation, initiation, and return:ĭuring separation, the hero sets out on the journey. In earth-diver myths, a supreme being sends an entity (usually an animal) into the primordial depths to bring back elements that help build a habitat for humanity.Įxistence lies dormant within a cosmic egg that hatches to bring forth life. Humanity emerges from another world in emergence myths. World parent type 2 myths describe creation arising from dismembered parts of a primordial entity. World parent type 1 myths say existence came about from the relationship between two deities. Latin for “from nothing,” ex nihilo creation myths describe the universe being brought into existence by the speech, dream, breath, or pure thought of a creator.Ĭhaos creation myths state that the word came from the act of bringing order from disorder. These stories typically incorporated one of the following: Some of the more popular types include creation, trickster, and gods:Ĭreation myths explain the origin of the universe and its parts. There are various types of myths, each of which serves its own function. Parables teach lessons about spiritual or religious beliefs. Legends are an early form of history featuring actual historical figures in situations that may be somewhat exaggerated (e.g., George Washington and the cherry tree). Folktales relate different aspects of a culture, but they do not always have a moral.Įpics are long poems that narrate the adventures of heroic figures or the history of a specific region/culture (e.g., the Greek myth The Iliad). They can contain a mixture of characters (humans, animals, magical creatures, etc.). Characters consist of humans, otherworldly beings, and heroes placed in extreme and improbable conflicts.įolktales are traditional stories passed down orally. Their resolutions illustrate cultural morals.įairy tales are stories intended for children that take place in magical realms. ![]() Narrative forms like fables, folktales, and legends are often associated with mythological stories:įables are short stories that feature anthropomorphized animals placed in simple conflicts. These myths led by example by reflecting relatable circumstances of life. They provided a guide for how people should develop from birth to death. Psychological myths helped individuals proceed through their lives in a personally meaningful way. They detailed cultures’ moral codes, creating and enforcing behavior and social mores. Sociological myths helped cultures develop a functioning society and maintain social order. Until science provided different explanations, myths allowed cultures to rationalize the unexplainable. Cosmological myths focus on natural phenomena such as how the world came into existence, why the sun rises and sets, the meaning of weather patterns, the presence/behavior of animals, etc. These stories bridged the gap between the physical world and what lies beyond.Ĭosmology is the study of the nature of the universe that attempts to understand the origin of existence. ![]() ![]() They attempted to connect humans with the fantastical elements of the universe and their connection to and relationship with higher forces (i.e., gods). Mystical myths awakened a sense of wonder and awe about the world. The primary purposes of myths are mystical, cosmological, sociological, and psychological: The English word myth comes from the Greek mythos, which has multiple meanings like “word,” “story,” and “saying.” Current definitions of myth are expanded to include misconception as a synonym, such as the myth that the moon landing was staged. They address fundamental questions that have plagued humanity for centuries: Myths provide insight into the attitudes, behaviors, values, beliefs, and identities of the culture in which they originated. Myths provided the origins of the moral code by which many live their lives today. They were an attempt to explain the universe, its creation, and how it works. Though myths may seem irrational to modern readers, such ancient stories offered a way for civilizations to understand reality. ![]()
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