How do th myths you read today address our definition of mythology? Please respond through critique, evaluation, and analysis. Use quotations and references to myths and divinities when possible.
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Some of these myths address our definition of mythology in the sense that the follow the criteria of most of the myths we read; they have luck and fortune or bad luck and misfortune from the divinities, they cross paths with women that they fall in love with and/or use or need, they have a mission they have to complete, or they have something that needs to be proven.
The definition of Greek mythology is, "Mythology is a study in early science about supernatural stories told orally about nature, man, and gods. The stories originated of Greeks, Romans, and Celts. Some famous authors include Homer and Virgil." The story about The Sun and his son, is an excellent example of the definition of Greek mythology. It is a story about supernatural powers. The Sun is a supernatural being that cause the sun to raise and set each day. In this case, however, the story is not told orally because I am reading it out of a book, but normally it would have been told orally. The story is about nature in the sense that it all has to do with the sun, which is a vital part of living. The man in this story is Thee Sun's son. He is born of a mortal woman and a god. The god in the story is obviously The Sun. This story was originated from the Greeks.
Myths are supernatural stories told down orally from generation to generation about man, nature, and gods. Myths aline with our definition because it fits it well. Most myths consist of gods faced with challenges and usually overcome them due to their supernatural powers. Death, war, and violence usually play large parts as well. Women aren't usually treated like they should be in myths either. They're often cheated on, or treated poorly in some way.
The definition of Greek mythology is the passing down of stories that explain supernatural events that occur. The Greeks would use the myths to explain deaths of people. One such example of this is Meleager. "To you, O new-born child, we grant a gift,, to live until this wood turns into ash" (175). Meleager suggests that they give the skin from the hunt to Atalanta and this is a disgrace to the family and the family name. His mother decides to burn the remainder of the log and that is why Meleager died although it is probably more likely that he died from an injury received during the hunt. Another example of Greek mythology at work comes from the same story but this one involves Aphrodite. Atalanta refuses to marry any man but is so quick that she posts a challenge that any man that is wins a foot race has the ability to marry her. Because of this, Hippomenes outwits Atalanta and becomes his wife by asking Aphrodite for help. Hippomenes is not faster or stronger than her. The story explains how he was able to win in the foot race against a much better and faster opponent. These stories explain the impossible and the unlikely events of daily life. Therefore the definition of myths are upheld.
I think the myths today are more inclined toward pleasing society, and less about being more accurate with the myths. Our definition of mythology was "the study of myths which are stories about the supernatural beings passed down orally about nature, man, and gods." I think that now, we don't exactly have the same definition of mythology. Today, myths are seen more as something interesting to read that may not make sense, but they spark the imagination. For instance, I love the "Percy Jackson" series, and although it is pretty parallel with the myths we've studied, there are certain elements of the myths that the author has manipulated because it makes for a more interesting or exciting novel. Myths today are still stories of the supernatural, but they are now seen more as entertainment rather than something to explain what we don't understand.
The 2 stories Four Great Adventures and Atalanta both contain the definition of mythology in that it tries to explain why things in nature occur. with the Four Great Adventures myth The rising and falling of the sun is explained as being a god who rides a chariot with horses pulling it up to the heavens and down to the ocean.
The definition of Greek mythology is stories orally passed down from generation to generation. These stories try to explains things in life such as god, man, and nature. As a rule women aren't depicted very well in the text. The war of Troy was fought because of a women and a daughter was sacrificed. The stories we just read are made to try and explain events in life that cannot be explained with reason.
In defining mythology, we have to understand that every tale or myth will be different even if it is the same as another. Myths are stories orally passed down through generation to generation to explain both natural and supernatural occurrences, and in these tales, we see so many differences in explanation of occurrences, such as Iris going about on a rainbow. We need to understand that no two myths are ever the same.
Myths are stories about supernatural beings, handed down orally from generation to generation relating to nature, man, and gods. The myths we read today do a good job of addressing this definition.
9 comments:
Some of these myths address our definition of mythology in the sense that the follow the criteria of most of the myths we read; they have luck and fortune or bad luck and misfortune from the divinities, they cross paths with women that they fall in love with and/or use or need, they have a mission they have to complete, or they have something that needs to be proven.
The definition of Greek mythology is, "Mythology is a study in early science about supernatural stories told orally about nature, man, and gods. The stories originated of Greeks, Romans, and Celts. Some famous authors include Homer and Virgil." The story about The Sun and his son, is an excellent example of the definition of Greek mythology. It is a story about supernatural powers. The Sun is a supernatural being that cause the sun to raise and set each day. In this case, however, the story is not told orally because I am reading it out of a book, but normally it would have been told orally. The story is about nature in the sense that it all has to do with the sun, which is a vital part of living. The man in this story is Thee Sun's son. He is born of a mortal woman and a god. The god in the story is obviously The Sun. This story was originated from the Greeks.
Myths are supernatural stories told down orally from generation to generation about man, nature, and gods. Myths aline with our definition because it fits it well. Most myths consist of gods faced with challenges and usually overcome them due to their supernatural powers. Death, war, and violence usually play large parts as well. Women aren't usually treated like they should be in myths either. They're often cheated on, or treated poorly in some way.
The definition of Greek mythology is the passing down of stories that explain supernatural events that occur. The Greeks would use the myths to explain deaths of people. One such example of this is Meleager. "To you, O new-born child, we grant a gift,, to live until this wood turns into ash" (175). Meleager suggests that they give the skin from the hunt to Atalanta and this is a disgrace to the family and the family name. His mother decides to burn the remainder of the log and that is why Meleager died although it is probably more likely that he died from an injury received during the hunt. Another example of Greek mythology at work comes from the same story but this one involves Aphrodite. Atalanta refuses to marry any man but is so quick that she posts a challenge that any man that is wins a foot race has the ability to marry her. Because of this, Hippomenes outwits Atalanta and becomes his wife by asking Aphrodite for help. Hippomenes is not faster or stronger than her. The story explains how he was able to win in the foot race against a much better and faster opponent. These stories explain the impossible and the unlikely events of daily life. Therefore the definition of myths are upheld.
I think the myths today are more inclined toward pleasing society, and less about being more accurate with the myths. Our definition of mythology was "the study of myths which are stories about the supernatural beings passed down orally about nature, man, and gods." I think that now, we don't exactly have the same definition of mythology. Today, myths are seen more as something interesting to read that may not make sense, but they spark the imagination. For instance, I love the "Percy Jackson" series, and although it is pretty parallel with the myths we've studied, there are certain elements of the myths that the author has manipulated because it makes for a more interesting or exciting novel. Myths today are still stories of the supernatural, but they are now seen more as entertainment rather than something to explain what we don't understand.
The 2 stories Four Great Adventures and Atalanta both contain the definition of mythology in that it tries to explain why things in nature occur. with the Four Great Adventures myth The rising and falling of the sun is explained as being a god who rides a chariot with horses pulling it up to the heavens and down to the ocean.
The definition of Greek mythology is stories orally passed down from generation to generation. These stories try to explains things in life such as god, man, and nature. As a rule women aren't depicted very well in the text. The war of Troy was fought because of a women and a daughter was sacrificed. The stories we just read are made to try and explain events in life that cannot be explained with reason.
In defining mythology, we have to understand that every tale or myth will be different even if it is the same as another. Myths are stories orally passed down through generation to generation to explain both natural and supernatural occurrences, and in these tales, we see so many differences in explanation of occurrences, such as Iris going about on a rainbow. We need to understand that no two myths are ever the same.
Myths are stories about supernatural beings, handed down orally from generation to generation relating to nature, man, and gods. The myths we read today do a good job of addressing this definition.
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