The Nature of Myth:

• go to Powell's web site (Ch. 1): click here (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)

Creation Myths

• basic questions for the initial creation (not applicable to all):
  • Who are the original beings and what is the primary matter in the account?
  • How or by what mechanism does creation occur?
  • Who is the creator and what is the nature of the world that was created?
  • How are the other deities created?
  • What questions does the story answer and on what occasions is the story told or retold?
• basic questions for the creation of mortals (not applicable to all):
  • Who is the creator of humans?
  • How or by what mechanism does creation occur?
  • What material(s) is(are) used in the creation of humans?
  • Why are humans created (i.e. what role/purpose do they play in creation)?
  • What questions does the story answer?
• know the following:
  • Dogon: Amma, Jackal, Nummo, Earth
  • Norse: Niflheim, Muspelheim, Ymer, Odin, Vili, Ve
  • Greek: go to Powell's web site for Ch 4 (click here) & Ch 5 (click here) (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)
  • Iroquois: Sky woman, the sorcerer, Waterfowl, Beaver, Turtle, Sky woman's daughter, Bud, Sapling
  • Mesopotamian: go to Powell's web site for Ch 4 (click here) (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)
  • Hittite: go to Powell's web site for Ch 4 (click here) (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)
  • Hindu: Brahma, Narayan(a), Boar form, kalpa (term)
  • Hebrew: God, Adam, Eve, Serpent
  • Mayan: Sovereign Plumed Serpent (also called Maker, Modeler, Bearer, Begetter), Hurricane (also called Heart of Sky)
  • Big Bang: Singularity, vacuum, explosion/inflation, light (later microwaves), crystals, darkness, matter

Myths of "The Male Divine" and One Trickster

• Hindu: Arjuna, Krishna, Sanjay(a), Bhagavad Gita, terms: karma, dharma, yoga, bhakti, jnana (L & M, Ch 4)
• Yoruba: Olorun, Orunmila, Eshu, orishas, Agemo (L & M, Ch 4)
• Norse: Odin, Thor, Hrungnir, Mist Calf, Mjollnir, hone, Groa, Golden Mane, Thalfi, Valhalla, Stone Fence House (L & M, Ch 4)
• Norse: Thor, Loki, Sif, dwarfs (sons of Ivaldi), dwarfs (Brokk & Eitri), Mjollnir, Gungnir, Sif's "hair", other gifts (L & M, Ch 5)

Myths of the "Olympian" gods: Zeus, ... (Powell, Ch 6)

• Key Names & Terms: Zeus, aegis, xenia, Moerae, Graces, Ganymede, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, anthropomorphism, Qo-wi-ja, animals/powers associated with Zeus, Hera, & Poseidon
• go to Powell's web site (Ch 6): click here (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)



Possible Essay Questions



• Background: The audience a story is directed to typically affects the shape and tenor of the story, e.g. in the 2004 presidential election, a strategist for one of the parties told the New York Times the following: "The big question is: What is the information that I have that indicates someone is a Democrat or Republican? And then it's all about talking to those people and giving them the information packaged in a way to get them to buy your brand" (NYTimes article [reg. reqd])
  Prompt: Examine how the audience of one of the following has helped shape the stories: Hesiod's audience (using good examples from the selections in Powell, Ch 4 & 5) or the Viking bard's audience (using good examples from all 3 of the myths we have covered). In preparing for this essay check out the following: Leonard's introduction to the Norse myths or Powell, pp. "The Dark Age" (27-29), "Males" (35-39) "Females" (40-45), and "Greek Myth in the Archaic Period"(67-71) (7th edit) as aids for determining facts about the respective audiences.


• Source material: the Mayan, Nogon, Hebrew, Greek, Norse human creation myths (L&M for first three, Powell for Greek, pdf for Norse).
  Prompt: Compare and/or contrast the means, the matter, and the creator(s) for any 3 of these 5. Don't forget that you should organize based on similarities/differences and don't "retell" the myths. You may include flood myths if you wish. In your conclusion, speculate on what significance, if any, is there in the similarites or in the differences.


• Source material: Dogon (L & M), Mesopotamian (Powell), Greek (Powell), Mayan (L & M), Norse (pdf)
  Prompt: Pick two of the following--compare and/or contrast them with the Norse myth using the chart we had worked on as the points of discussion. In your conclusion, speculate on what significance, if any, is there in the similarities, or in the differences.