...I found the textbook, "The World of Myth", to be fascinating and mind boggling. Before I read the introduction to the book I didn't really recognize that myths contained some form of truth. I had always thought myths to be fictional stories. I've learned it's quite opposite actually. Myth consists of accurate facts as well as part story. For instance, I used to think a myth was just "an old wives tale". I thought it was just a story passed down through gossipping women over the years. It in fact is more than just a story. It is a story of truth passed down from generation to generation. However, as a result of this, the truth has been interpreted differently amongst different people. This is how we get facts mixed in with fictional stories....
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...Theories of Myths Paper Myths are so important when it comes to understanding people; Myth comes from the Greek word ‘mythos’ that simply means story or word. Before histories and books on fiction, fact or fantasy were ever written, man from the earliest days told stories to each other and for each other to communicate, reassure, share, and make sense of his or her realities. Myths enact and present a narrative of how a character lives out or goes through an event or a set of events. Myths have come to symbolize a particular genre of fiction along the lines of legends and folktales - important aspects of meaning-making and identity-creation in cultures all over the world. Mary Magoulick (2009) defines myths as such, "Myths are symbolic tales of the distant past (often primordial times) that concern cosmogony and cosmology (the origin and nature of the universe), may be connected to belief systems or rituals, and may serve to direct social action and values." In this paper I will discuss three theories, compare two creation myths, and finish with a summary and conclusion of my reflection towards the theories. Myths are important areas and source of sociological, psychological, and even historiographical discourse in our attempt at understanding and learning of the world of our ancestors and the people and civilizations that came before us. From these myths we learn their world views, how they made sense of their realities and how they reacted to and processed natural and social...
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...Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Arthil Valena Hum 105 May 23, 2016 David Hudson Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures There are many creation myths that originate from different cultures. Every culture has its own unique myth that explains creation and how the world and life came to be (Leonard & McClure, 2004). Although each culture has a different way of explaining the story of creation, there are some similarities and differences among them. Two of the myths that are more divergent in content are the Edda creation myth from Norse culture and the Genesis creation myth from Hebrew culture. Although both creation stories have more than one realm, they differ in how they break each area down. Both creation myths also have a god or gods as the beginning creators. All cultures have their own creation myths and it is interesting to see the similarities and differences between Monotheistic and Polytheistic There are many worlds or realms to take into consideration when discussing the Norse creation myth. In the beginning there was a realm called Muspell which was made of fire, and a realm called Niflheim which was made of ice (Leonard & McClure, 2004). Between both of these realms was a sea of emptiness called Ginnungagap (Leonard & McClure, 2004). All three of the realms were not considered to be part of the heavens or the earth but rather before earth. These realms were the beginning or pre-worlds of the Norse creation myths. According...
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...The myths within different cultures cosmic creation 105 6/29/2015 Dr. AMBRONITA DOUZART The myths within different cultures cosmic creation With the stories of the myths creations, they have told to generation-to-generation. To give a clear understand, of the world how it started. Also created to what it has become now. It explains the reasons of how the human being created, in came to function on in the world. With these myths different cultures, have their stories to tell of myths as such. The two creations myths that I will be discussing is the Navajo. The Inca, they are signifying as the world that is on the earth with the moon. The sun elements of animals, fire, trees, water all symbolize the world Navajo also the Inca. With the Incan, believe the sun created the world, also who created the world. For the Navajo the sun, just like it created for the Inca. With both of these creators, they all made worlds for the people within their society the main, reason with both the Inca Navajo creators. For the creators of both of these societies, they have different methods of making the world. Also within Both the Inca and the Navajo, the creators gender is a man, not women. For the reason, women were not the symbol, of power and valued, as men would be in these cultures as creators. With the Navajo society world The Pachacamer is the Inca maker, of the maker of people. Although the myths of the Navajo maker has already started creating people,...
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...Cosmic Creation Myths across Cultures Leroy Williams HUM/105 World Mythology August 19, 2015 Dr. Cheryl Lampshire Cosmic Creation Myths across Cultures Does anyone really know how the world was created? The creation of the world is a big mystery that may never be resolved. Many people mainly, religious believe that God created the world; and there are others that believe other creators were involved in the process of creating the world. I believe that creation is the most important subject in the myth culture. There are several meanings for creation but according to the dictionary "Creation" (n.d.), “creation is the act of producing or causing to exist; it is also the act of creating and engendering”. Creation myths describe the beginning of the world’s cosmic order. For many years there have been studies done, where scientist have been trying to decipher how the world was created and as of today there is no evidence that will help with its finding. With this paper I will discuss two myths the Aboriginal Myth and the Zulu Creation Myth. Which world or worlds, such as the earth, sky, and the underworld they represent, what the elements of these worlds are? Provide a description of the creators, where they female or male, and would gender actually make a difference? Additionally it will explain what they created, and will include the steps or cycles of creation. Will provide descriptions of any destruction or destroyers if necessary. The role of cosmic...
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...Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Stephanie Smith HUM/105 August 18, 2014 Kwajalein Harmon Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Creation myths are stories told throughout time to describe how the world was formed and began. They also tell how the first people came to inhabit it. There are different myths for different cultures. The Native Americans have several myths. The Seminole Indians believe in the Creator who is also known as the Grandfather of all things. They believed the Creator made the earth. He then made all the animals of the world. The next step in his creation was to place all living things in a shell and placed it beside a tree. The Creator was hoping that the panther would be the first one to leave the shell. However, the shell sat for a long time. Over time the root of the tree formed with the shell and finally a crack appeared. Then the winds helped to make the crack wider. The bird began to peck at the crack until finally the panther emerged from the shell. The rest of the animals followed after that and they all went out to find their proper place on Earth. (nativeamcreation.html, 2015) The creator in this myth is a man. There does not seem to be any significance to this. One can only assume that man was always considered the greater being. The Zulu myth begins with just one seed that fell to the Earth. Once the seed took root in the earth, Uthlanga began to grow. These are long reeds that mean “the source of all things”. The first one...
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...Creative metaphor in three creation myths Introduction In this essay I will analyse the creative use of metaphor in three creation myths: Japanese, Chinese and Australian aboriginal creation myths. Before going into the detailed analysis of each creation myth, I will first consider the most appropriate framework by outlining the concept of cognitive metaphor and its uses. I will also draw on historical and cultural background information of each creation myth to provide the context for my analysis. I will then employ the chosen framework to analyse the three creation myths and draw particular attention to the interplay of metaphor and language creativity. Finally, I will evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen framework by considering how far it enables me to interpret creation mythology in context. Cognitive metaphor theory Traditional approaches have regarded metaphor mainly as a rhetorical or artistic figure of speech (Johnson, 1989). Cognitive metaphor theory coming more recently has recognised metaphor as a persistent trait in human thoughts. It is based on the foundation that metaphor is not limited to literary texts but is a pervasive feature in all language uses (Jeffries and McIntyre, 2010). Lakoff, Johnson and Turner were the forerunners in establishing cognitive metaphor theory (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980; Turner, 1987; Lakoff and Turner, 1989). In the classic work Metaphor We Live By, Lakoff and Johnson (1980) argue that metaphor is not merely a matter of language...
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...art. Myths and mythological characters have enthused masterpieces of composition, literature, sculpture and architecture. By studying myths, you can study how diverse societies have answered primary questions about the world and the individuals place in it. As individuals, the study of myths shows us how urbanized a meticulous communal system is with the conduct of life. By investigative myths, people can understand the feelings and principles that combine members of society into one group. Comparing the myths of a variety of cultures to determine how they are diverse and how they remind you of one another can also, show understanding on how people behave. For at least 2,000 years, scholars have speculated about how myths began. Some consider myths began as historical events that became unclear with the line of time. Others think myths resulted from an effort to explain natural occurrences that people could not value. Scholars have also urbanized others theories of how myths began. These theories answers all the questions about myths, but each contributes to an understanding of the subject. Today, people have methodical answers theories for many such questions about the world around them, also the usual events in terms of stories about gods, goddesses, and heroes. In the early days each society urbanized its own myths, which played a significant part in the society’s religious life. Most myths are alienated into two groups’ creation myths and explanatory myths. In this...
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...Since the creation of humanity, we have used stories to explain the creation of ourselves, and of the entire universe. These stories, known as myths, help characterize the culture from which they derive, and in essence are part of every human being who is part of a culture or group. Myths are diverse and intricate, with completely different outcomes and views. However, taking a closer look at these stories there are countless similarities between each explanation of how humanity came to be. Though the cultural groups that make up humanity are vastly different, their myths have similar aspects to them that cannot be considered just a mere coincidence. The Greek myth “Pandora’s Box”, the Iroquois myth “the Diver” and the Judeo Christian myth Genesis all have similar “universal” characteristics....
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...Creation Myths Kimberly L. Moore HUM/105 World Mythology Diana Bernstein February 1, 2016 Creation Myths * I have chosen the “Greek Creation Myth,” and the “Mayan Creation Myth.” * In the “Mayan Creation Myth,” the heavens and the earth are both represented. The elements of earth are: day, moon and stars, mountains and hills, streams and rivers, animals, and human beings. The heavens are represented by Veracocha’s retreat to Lake Titcaca, from which he emerges in the beginning of the myth. It also describes a sea world as the god and his companions retreat to the coast of the sea, in the end of the myth, never to be seen again (Rosenberg p. 599) In the “Greek Creation myth,” earth, the sky world, and underworld are all represented. The earth is made from the earth Goddess, Gaia. The sky, and its starry mantle are Uranus, Gaia’s husband. The underworld is a place that contains the deepest, darkest depths of the earth, but also the “Blessed Isles,” a beautiful place where the heroes go when they die (University of Phoenix, 2015). * The creator in the Mayan creation myth is Lord Con Ticci Viracocha, “prince of the heavens and the earth” (Rosenburg p.599). Viracocha created the heavens and the earth first. Then, he created the animals and a race of “gigantic human beings” (Rosenburg p.571). He was displeased with the behaviors of the animals and humans, turned them into stone, and flooded the earth killing all of its inhabitants. He began again by creating day...
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...“A Myth” Mythology/HUM/105 August 19, 2014 Stacy Pfister-Jolley For me a myth is an abstract word that can be real or not. When using it in textbook then it should be understood figuratively. It’s as stated on www.thefreedictionary.com, myth is defined as a fictitious but well known story. The word myth is used in the studious context by acknowledging what is fake or real. The word myth is used popularly through fantasies told throughout today’s culture. Either were reading a book with magical creatures or watching a science fiction movie. Some mystical stories which are: Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, Zeus, Merlin and the tooth fairy. These myths were made to decrease reality for adolescent. For example, telling the story of Santa Claus to children. It makes them excited and some behave more or less during the holidays. To me, myths are like historic events that are not true and much more interesting than others. For me a myth is an abstract word that can be real or not. When using it in textbook then it should be understood figuratively. One of the most commonly used myths that many different cultures have in common is the creation myth. When examining creation stories and creation myths across cultures, there are several obvious similarities and differences that exist. While these creation myths are important to observe and offer ideas about, it seems that the most vital task is not in analyzing the smaller differences or common elements, but to look at...
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...Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Charlie Warren HUM/105 02/29/15 Jennifer Meunir Introduction The two creation myths that I chose to compare and contrast are The Creation of the Universe and Ife. Each myth has its story, and they all included a world with a sky, earth, and the underworld. There is also the creator of humans both male and female. Both genders have their significances including what they created and the steps they took. Both myths have a different cycle of creation that is similar and different in many ways, which is important to its culture. Creation Myths The sky was represented as a place of greatness in both myths. They symbolize the heavens where the Gods and creator lived. In both myths, the greatest or most powerful God ruled over the sky. In each myth the elements of each world and how they came to be may vary, for example, in the story of Yin and Yang the two Gods created the heaven and the earth out of nothing. In the Yoruba myth the heavens and the earth were already created and ruled by Gods. Yin and Yang were the creators in the Chinese myth,”And Yang gathered into himself all that was bright and light. And, like a mist, Yang drifted upward into Heaven and become one with it. And Heaven became round. Then Yin gathered into herself all that was dark and heavy. And, like a thick, plodding mass, Yin sank downward into the earth and became one with it. And earth became square.” (Rosenberg 345) Yang gave birth to fire, when her breath became...
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...Theories of Myth University of Phoenix Theories of Myth Myths could have dissimilar meaning to society. A myth can portray a fairy-tale that is not true which could be precisely meant for entertainment to a narrator and whoever is listening to the story. A myth could portray a fairy-tale that maybe true. The stores told many years ago could have some false and true meaning. In order to comprehend the history of mythology, brilliant intellects capture dissimilar methods to understand the fairy-tales being read and determining to view if the stories were true, to view if the stories were false, to view if the stories of the imagination or if the stories were actually real thousands of years ago. An example of brilliant intellect is Sir William Jones who found legitimacy in the myths by investigating the dialect the stories were printed in. Sir William Jones was valued and respected as a young adult who spoke five languages and was considered a youthful genius in the 18th century. Sir William Jones assumed he could confirm the authenticity of the fairy-tales by using the dialect utilized many years ago. Sir William Jones traced the languages to one resource that all languages were developed from; this was called proto-indo-European that was a dialect presented as an idea. Sir Jones found a way to give legitimacy to his process, which others used and found that myths were vital and crucial windows into cultures and...
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...Compare and contrast the Biblical creation myths with other creation myths from Greece and the Ancient Near East. This essay will compare and contrast the Biblical creation myths with other creation myths from Greece and the Ancient Near East. It will first discuss the initial creation of the universe followed by the creation of mankind and finally the recreation of man whilst drawing parallels to Sumerian and Babylonian texts, The Old Testament and Hesiods Theogony. In paying particular attention to the chronology of each myth it will be shown that the creation myths regarding the universe and mankind evolved from as far back as the Sumerian stories. From the fragmented Sumerian tablets discovered throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries , (that date back as far as the third millenium B.C.) Sumerologists, such as Samuel Noah Kramer, have deciphered the oldest cosmogonic concepts ever found . Kramer explains that because the Sumerians lacked "scientific methods of definition and generalization " to make sense of the origins and the working of the universe they attempted to provide explanation through the use of poetry, epic tales and hymns . The only scientific information they had access to was what could be seen around them, that being Earth, Air, Heaven and Water , and according to the Ancient Sumerians it was through these essential elements that the universe came to be and it begins with Nammu, the primeval sea. From the primeval sea was born...
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...Rituals and Myth Ruslan Khalilov REL 161: Indigenous Religions of North America Dr. Lisa Poirier September 24, 2015 Have you ever think about rituals and myths, why people do perform rituals and tell myth? Myth is the story of origin or controversial story of events in what people believe to be true. Ritual is a tradition or ceremony which people perform, because they believe that performing of ritual will help feel a sense of comfort. For example, people believe that knocking on the wood help people to believe that they have escaped bad luck after tempting fate. In this essay we will go more deep to definitions of myth and religion. Myth is a true story that may and may not have actually happened and it alternatives to scientific understandings of origin. Myth accomplish for people who tell them to believe to controversial story of origin. “When the woman fell she was pregnant with twins. When these came they evinced opposite dispositions, the one good, the other evil. Even before they were born the same characters were manifested. They struggled together, and their mother heard them disputing. The one declared his willingness to be born in the usual manner, while the other malignantly refused, and, breaking through his mother’s side, killed her.” This is an example of myth of Wendat (Huron people) in what they believe is a story of creation of land. Woman was falling with children, one was a good son and second was evil...
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