Chapter Three
Chapter 3 Objectives:
 Describe the meaning of mythology and explain how it




relates to the study of the Humanities and the theory of
Carl Jung.
Outline features of the archetype of the hero in myth.
Distinguish major archetypes in myths including magic,
word power, the circle, the journey, and the garden.
Illustrate the concept of myth as explanation regarding
areas such as creation, the natural world, and human
suffering.
Explain mythic elements in fairy tales and relate the study
of myth and the archetypes to fairy tales and stories in your
own life.
Carl Jung
 Believed that all people are born with an instinctive





knowledge of archetypes
The Hero
The Wise One
The Trickster or The Underdog
The Villian
Carl Jung Archetypes youtube video (1:48)
Joseph Campbell
 You tube video – 4:34
 What do you have in common with the Hero?
 You leave your “comfort zone” and
 “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”
Archetypal Heroes
 Birth of the Hero—unusual/wonderous
 Early Recognition of Hero
 Hero’s Great Deeds
 Hero’s loss of Power
 Hero must prove him/herself
 Fairy Tales– happy ending
 Myths – lots of tragedy
 Archetypal Heroes – youtube clip 13 min
The Hero Today – Anti-hero?
 Anti Hero: Usually fairly “normal” person, who strives
to do the right thing, but has many failings.






Wolverine of the X-men
Willy Loman Death of a Salesman
Draco Malfoy, or what about Snape?
Napoleon Dynamite
Edward/Jacob -- Twilight
Usually more interesting than traditional Heroes—often does
things/has a personality that causes problems – therefore is
partially/completely at fault for his/her problems/failings.
Components of Myth
 Magic
 Power of Words
 Power of Numbers
 The Circle
 The Journey
 The Garden
 Gods as human beings (Greek gods)
Myth as Explanation
 Creation
 The Natural World
 Human Suffering
 Cursed by Fate
Myths of Childhood
 Need for reassurance
 Importance of being rich and attractive
 The Importance of Names
 The Dark Side
Popular Mythology
 We continue to create and perpetuate myths
 Common Sayings
How Myths influence Humanities
 Many times, myths and archetypes underlie a given
work.
 “Leda and the Swan” by Yeats is much more powerful if
you know about Zeus who disguised himself as a swan.
 Frodo in Lord of the Rings leaves Middle Earth at the
end and goes to a very “green” type of paradise – much
like the Elysian Fields for brave Greek warriors, in
Greek Mythology.
 If you have a broad knowledge of myths, you can look
for the similarities in modern literature, film, art, etc.
East vs. West—the Myths that
mystify
 The World vs. My World (Devdutt Pattanaik – 20 min)
 Every culture is trying to understand itself and each culture





comes up with its own explanation.
Different cultures come up with different explanations
“My World” is always better than “Your World” – the reason
we have strife and warfare, etc.
Don’t live a life that is boring – be SPECTACULAR!!
The Circle—what comes around, goes around.
Cloud Atlas – the same life is lived over and over until you
get it right.
The next time you meet a stranger:
 One request: Understand that you live in the
subjective truth and so does he.
 Have empathy.

Devdutt Pattanaik
Key Terms:
 Archetype
 Collective unconscious – Jung’s phrase for the





universality of myths among different cultures
Gender Roles
Karma
Monomyth – myth found in every culture -- hero
Mythology
Myths