World Myths - Archetypes



World Myths

Unit Terms/Literary Vocabulary (See Back for Archetypes)

AUTHOR’S PURPOSE:

The author’s motivation or reason for writing a text.

MYTH: a story passed down orally that explains the way the world came to be, a cultural

belief, or a mysterious natural phenomenon. (Origin myths explain the beginning of life, death, etc.)

Types of Creation Myths:

1. Earth Diver Example: Cheyenne; Siberian

2. Dismembered God/Goddess Example: Norse

3. Spoken into Existence Example: Genesis

4. Union of Mother Earth and Father Sky Example: Egyptian Creation

Creation Myth Reading Comprehension Questions

1. How does “How the World Was Made” differ from the Norse Creation Myth video?

The tone is one of the primary things that distinguishes the stories. HTWWM is light-hearted, innocent, and cheerful, whereas the Norse Creation Myth is violent, aggressive, and shocking.

2. What is the cultural significance of a “little coot” having such a central role in creation? In other words, what can readers learn about Cheyenne beliefs about nature and animals from this myth?

Since the “little coot” is an insignificant bird (it’s a bird that can barely fly!) and it has a primary role in the world’s creation, one can assume all creatures have importance to the Cheyenne people.

3. Note the story of man and woman’s formation on page 3. How does this connect to Genesis?

Both stories describe the creation of human beings. This connects to Genesis because there is a reference to ribs in both texts.

World Myths - Archetypes

Archetype:

1. 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; prototype.

2. (in Jungian psychology) a collectively inherited unconscious idea, pattern of thought, image, etc., universally present in individual psyches.

World Myths – Archetype Examples

| |Definition or Characteristics |Myth, Folktale, or Literary |Modern Example |

| | |Example | |

|Trickster: |an agent of change |Coyote from Coyote and the |The Joker from The Dark Knight |

| |clever, manipulative, often acts without full|Origin of Death |The Hyenas from The Lion King |

| |consideration of outcome | | |

|Villain: |an agent of evil |Seth from Osiris and Isis |Scar from The Lion King |

| |clever, manipulative, selfish | | |

| |often antagonist | | |

|Hero: |an agent of good |Hector from The Iliad |Frodo from The Lord of the Rings|

| |clever, loyal, courageous |Dante? |Batman from The Dark Knight |

| |often protagonist |Achilles? | |

|Mother/ |Protective, supportive, |Grandmother Turtle from HTWWM |Fairy Godmother from Cinderella |

|Nurturer: |life-giving |Earth from AQWF |NOT |

| | | |Stepmother! |

|Mentor: |Focuses, drives, guides, and prepares the |Virgil from Dante’s Inferno |Gandalf from The Lord of the |

| |hero | |Rings |

| | | |Alfred from The Dark Knight |

|Temptress: |Attempts to derail, |Fear from Dante’s Inferno |The Ring from The Lord of the |

| | | |Rings |

1. Call to Adventure

7. Applying the Goal/

Lesson

2. Crossing the

Threshold

6. Return Home

3. Trials

5. Achieving

the Goal

4. Temptation

-----------------------

The Hero’s Journey

Known/Familiar World

Unknown/World of Adventure

Unknown/Unfamiliar World

Unit Essential Question:

How are the stories (narratives!) from across the world similar?

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