World Mythology – Final Individual Assignment
You have been assigned or selected to work on the following type of myth:
How and Why?
Phillip, Racine, Brittany, and Michael
African American – How the Alligator Got His Hide OR The Old Rooster and Why he Scratches
African - Why the Bat Sleeps Upside Down or How Lightning Came to be or Why Folks Must Die
Native – Coyote and Death
Asian – Why the Carabao Moves So Slowly or The River of Stars
Trickster
Cassandra, Denise, Miguel, Mariam, and Lexi
African - Hare Causes Big Trouble or Tortoise Cracks His Shell
Native – Coyote and the Thundering Rock
African – American – Anansi Takes a Ride
Romance
Cyrissa, Chelsea, Maham and Rita
Asian – The Ruby Ring
Native – Scarface or Oochigeas and the Invisble Hunter
African – How Nambi Gained Her Beloved
Morality
Jasmine, Andriana, Rebecca, and Kevin
African – The Snake and the Princess or The Man Who Argued with God
African-American – Anansi and the Turtle
Using your individual myth that you have selected, complete the following:
a) Conflicts – identify and explain at least 3 conflicts that exist in your myth, who is involved, how each is resolved
and the impact each has on plot
b) Morals and Lessons – identify at least 2 lessons that can be learned from reading your myth and use supporting
evidence to illustrate and explain how those lessons are conveyed through your myth. Do not repeat information
from the above section. Then explain how and why the lessons are still relevant today by using present day
examples
c) Common Elements/Characteristics, and Motifs – thoroughly explain what elements are common to your type of
myth – this step will require some research - and also prove with supporting details how one motif is developed in
your myth (See reverse of Hercules Chart)
Again, make sure that you do not repeat information from above or it will affect your thinking mark!
Use a chart like the one provided in class to identify the elements and then fill in your chart using information from
the myth itself (see chart on Creation Myths)
Be sure to complete a Works Cited!!!
The analysis should be typed up using MLA format, double spaced. Feel free to incorporate the chart
into your document.
d) Complete one of the creative elements below:
i) create your own story of morality, how and why, romance or trickster – be sure it is original. It can take any format you like.
ii) create a poster with present day allusions that can be linked to your type of myth – use drawings, clipart, symbols, images,
etc.
iii) compare/contrast yourself to any main character in your selected myth – use a creative method to illustrate the
connections
iv) student suggestions - must be creative in nature