MYTHOLOGY COURSE OUTLINE
I.
Define mythology
II.
Types of myths
A. Creation (The Creation Hymn, Apache myth, Nigerian myth)
B. Trickster
C. Quest
III.
Hero’s Journey
A. PowerPoint and handout
B. Read “Hero With a Thousand Faces” (Joseph Campbell)
C. Common themes found in all myths
IV.
Fantasy and make-believe elements (suspension logic)
V.
Archetypes in literature
A. Characters
1. Hero archetypes
a. The quest
b. Initiation
c. The Sacrificial Scapegoat
2. The Archetypal Woman
a. The Great Mother, Good Mother, Earth Mother
(1) Associated with birth, warmth, protection, fertility, growth,
abundance, the unconscious
b. The Terrible Mother (witch, sorceress, siren)
(1) Associated with fear, danger, death
c. The Soul-Mate (princess, beautiful lady)
(1) Incarnation of inspiration and spiritual fulfillment
3. Innate wisdom vs. educated stupidity
4. Mentor
5. Initiate
6. Loyal retainers
7. Friendly beast
8. Evil figure with the ultimately good heart
9. Temptress
10. Damsel in distress
11. Star-crossed lovers
B. Colors
1. White: innocence, purity, virginity
2. Black: knowledge, intelligence, evil, chaos, death, despair
3. Yellow: hope, happiness
4. Red: passion (violence, love, artistry), blood, sacrifice
5. Blue: compromise, serenity
6. Green: life, rebirth, growth, sensation, hope
7. Orange: hope and passion combined
8. Brown: unity with the land
9. Purple: power, royalty
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
C. Setting
1. Water: mystery of creation, death-birth resurrection, purification and
redemption, fertility & growth, unconscious
a. The sea: Mother of all Life, spiritual mystery, death & rebirth
b. Rivers: death & rebirth (baptism), flowing of time into eternity
2. Sun (fire and sky are closely related): creative energy, law in nature,
consciousness (thinking, enlightenment, wisdom, spiritual vision), passage of
time and life
a. Rising sun: birth, creation, enlightenment
b. Setting sun: death
3. Wind (and breath): inspiration, conception, soul or spirit
4. Ship: microcosm, mankind’s journey through space and time
5. Garden: paradise, innocence, unspoiled beauty (especially feminine), fertility
6. Desert: spiritual aridity, death, nihilism or hopelessness
7. Light: hope, renewal, intellectual illumination
8. Darkness: unknown, ignorance, despair
9. Fire: knowledge, light, life, rebirth
10. Ice: ignorance, darkness, sterility, death
11. Mechanistic World: technology is often viewed as evil
Read variety of myths from different cultures (same type)
Create family tree of gods
A. Characteristics of hero myths
B. Start with Hercules
Modern uses of mythology
A. Examine mythological patterns in modern literature and films
B. Ex: Star Wars; Lord of the Rings
Mythological terms & today’s use
Myth as inspiration for art and poetry
Students write their own myths (Ex: “Why does the sun rise in the morning?”, “Why does
the sun set at night?”, “Have we been visited by aliens from another planet?”
Extensions:
A. Letter-writing
B. Developing a mythology game
C. Art in mythology
D. Museum exhibit
E. Dioramas
F. Role-play
Myths:
Greek creation myth of Gaia and Uranus
Creation of man: Titanis Prometheus and Epimeteus
Pandora (act out)
Herakles (Hercules): Start with The Labors (make journey map, wall-sized mural)
Orpheus and Daedalus (compare)
Cronus
Athena: (make Athena Barbie)
Echo
Narcissus
Phaethon
Icarus
Cassiopeia
HERO MYTHS:
Jason
Bellerophon
Perseus
Theseus
Achilles Meleager
Atlanta
NOVELS:
Quiver
Goddess of Yesterday
The Great God Pan
RESOURCES:
Ancient World Web: www.julen.net/ancient
Encyclopedia Mythology: www.bulfinch.org
The Hero’s Journey: www.meli.dist.maricopia.edu/sme/journey
Legends: www.legends.dm.net
Malaspina Great Books: www.mala.bc.ca/~mcneil/matrix.htm
Myths, Folk Tales and Fairy Tales: http://teacher.scholastica.comwritewit/mff/index.htm
Mything Links: www.mythinglinks.org
Mythweb: www.mythweb.com
Pegasus Paradise: http://tajunior.thinkquest.org/4553
Tales of Wonder: http://members.nbci.com/xmen/darsio/tales/index.html
Windows to the Universe: www.windows.ucar.edu
Campbell, Star Wars and the Myth:
http://ibelique.ifrance.com/swanthropo/txt/camptexteanglair.html
Superman and Hercules as Examples of Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth:
www.cv81pl.freeserve.co.uk/monomyth.htm
Hero’s Journey in Education: www.yourheroicjourney.com/simpsons.shtml (for teachers)
Edsitement (has several lessons on mythology): edsitement.neh.gov