mythology
Creation Myths & Hero Myths
Identifying Myths
• traditional, typically ancient story dealing
with supernatural beings, ancestors, or
heroes
• explains aspects of the natural world or the
psychology, customs, or ideals of society
Types of Myths
• Origin/Creation Myths
• Hero Myths
• God Myths
Origin/Creation Myths
– A story that discusses how aspects of the Universe
came to be, as viewed by a particular culture or
group.
Common Elements/Purpose
• Birth/Parental figures
• Order from chaos
• Characters are either deities, human-like figures, or
animals (use of archetypes)
• Set in a non-specific past
• Answer meaningful societal questions
• Yields a culture’s worldview and framework for cultural
self-identity within a universal context
Archetypes
• Myths, as well as other stories (both oral & written), often contain archetypes.
• Definition: the original pattern or model from which all things of the same
kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form
Archetype
Meaning/Synonym
Example
Doppelganger
double; shadow; evil twin
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Females
Mother Earth; Temptress;
Maiden Hero; Damsel in
Distress
Cinderella; Fairy
Godmother; Lady
Macbeth
Hero
Epic Hero
King Arthur; Beowulf
Anti-Hero
Reluctant Hero
Achilles; Hercules
Byronic Hero
Tragic Hero
Hamlet; Brutus
Sage
Wise Mane; Mentor; Guide
Merlin; Glinda
Trickster
Hermes
Villain
Grendel; Hades
Creation Myth Project
After reading sample creation myths and filling out the creation myth
chart, create an original creation myth.
It must include appropriate creation myth
elements and be less than 4 paragraphs in
length.
Choose from the following focus questions to guide your myth:
1. Why does rain fall?
2. Why do people dream?
3. Where do stars come from?
4. Where does the moon go during the day?
Choose 2!
5. Why do people sing/play instruments?
6. Where did color come from?
7. Why does the sun cross the sky?
8. Why does the wind blow?
9. Where did storytelling come from?
10. Why is the ocean so “bi-polar” (turbulent AND calm)?
Hero Myths
– Traditional heroes are almost always male.
– The hero is usually a demi-god (half god), or has a god in his family.
– The hero has some kind of super-natural power or has the strong
support of a god.
– The hero is usually on a quest. He has a task or a challenge (or more
than one) that an ordinary mortal could not carry out.
– The hero is always seeking fame, glory and, most importantly, honor.
These are more important than life itself.
– The hero is braver, stronger, bolder and, sometimes, more clever than
most men. He is close to the gods.
– The hero usually has a weakness (usually too much pride, AKA hubris,
or a terrible temper). This can lead to problems for him and usually to
his downfall.
Hero background
1. Read the summaries of Jason, Hercules,
and Perseus.
2. Take notes on each of the 3 Heroes using
the chart in your packet
Hero Myth Project
After reading about Hercules, Jason, and Perseus, choose one
hero you like best. In the computer lab, do some more
research on this particular hero.
Step 1:
Read at least 3 more stories that include this character to determine
his character traits.
Step 2:
Create and hand in a list of 10-15 character traits (physical, emotional,
personality, strengths, weaknesses) for your chosen hero.
Step 3:
Write a new myth involving your chosen hero. Pretend your hero is a
student at Union High School. Choose a NORMAL high school event
(math test, prom, lunch room fight, etc.). Your myth must expose the
hero’s flaw(s) and character traits from your research.
Helpful Web Sites
for your Hero Project
General:
• http://www.mythweb.com/
• http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/heroes/tp/TopHeroes.htm
• http://www.theoi.com/greek-mythology/greek-gods.html
Hercules:
• http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1998/2/98.02.06.x.html
• http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/greece.htm
Jason:
• http://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/myths.html
Perseus:
• http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/newquiz/blheroes1c.htm
Mythology Final Project
Directions: Each group will research a different type of
mythology/mythological element, read myths from that lineage,
and create a story that features elements from that type of
myth/mythological element
• The possibilities (you will pick from a hat) are:
• Chinese Gods/Mythology
• Mermaid Mythology
• Medusa
• Mount Olympus
• Mythological Creatures
• African Gods/Mythology