1. Mr. Upchurch’s Mythology 101 Lectures 5-7
MYTHIC THEMES
Mr. Upchurch’s Mythology 101
Lectures 5-7

2. Concepts common to mythology
Mythic Theme?
Mythic—referring to mythology
Theme—a broad of common idea or concept
Concepts common to mythology

3. The Themes 1. Creation Accounts 2. Heroes and The Heroic Journey
3. Gods and Goddess
4. Good and Evil
5. Trickster
6. Nature/ Animals…etc
7. Fantastic Beasts

4. Creation Accounts

5. Creation Accounts
Stories used by a group of people to explain the origins of life.
Difficulty lies in determining “how literally” these were meant to be taken. (handout)

6. Common Elements of Creation Accounts
Creator(s)
Persons
Powers
Created
World
Inhabitants
VIEW EXAMPLE: ABORIGINAL

7. Heroes

8. Quick Vocab Culture- The characteristic features of
everyday existence (the way of life)
shared by people in a place or time
(or participants in a common lifestyle).
Ideal-
A standard of perfection, beauty, or
excellence.

9. Heroes They are everywhere…because everyone loves them
We love them because…
A hero is a figure (person) of
great importance (possibly national
or even cosmic) and the "ideal”
man or woman of a culture.

10. They are of great importance-
Stories will grab our attention
They are on an “grand scale”

11. They are the ideal man or woman or a culture-
They encompass ideals
Standards of perfection
They spur to action
These are examples by which we live

12. The Heroic Journey

13. Heroic Journey Stage 1: Ordinary World Stage 2: Call to Adventure
Stage 3: Refusal of Call
Stage 4: Meeting with the Mentor
Stage 5: Crossing the Threshold
Stage 6: Tests, Allies, Enemies
Stage 7: Approach the Inmost Cave
Stage 8: The Ordeal
Stage 9: Seizing the Reward
Stage 10: The Road Back
Stage 11: Resurrection
Stage 12: Return with the Elixir

14. ORDINARY WORLD The Beginning
Creates contrast with the bulk of the story

15. CALL TO ADVENTURE
The hero is presented with a problem, challenge or adventure.

16. REFUSAL OF THE CALL Does not want to accept the call
Fear, Doubt… Indecision
Usually ends with either, Meeting the Mentor (next step), or a situation that leaves the hero with no other choice

17. MEETING WITH THE MENTOR
The hero is encouraged by the Wise Old Man or Woman
Walks with hero into adventure… but can only go so far

18. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
The hero fully enters the special world of the story for the first time
Adventure Starts
No turning back

19. TESTS, ALLIES, ENEMIES
The hero is forced to make allies and enemies in the special world, and to pass certain tests and challenges that are part of his/her training.

20. APPROACH TO THE INMOST CAVE
The hero comes at last to a dangerous place, often deep underground, where the object of the quest is hidden
Often this also involves a trip to the underworld

21. ORDEAL This is the moment at which the hero touches bottom
Hero faces death
The pinnacle of the journey
Often a huge battle/fight scene
In romantic comedies this is “the break-up scene”

22. SEIZING THE SWORD/REWARD
Hero takes possession of whatever they were seeking
Object
Information
Achievement
Girl…

23. THE ROAD BACK Now the hero must return home with their treasure
Usually not an easy journey!
Treasure could be recaptured
Hero may have to choose between rewards (the cause or the heart…ect)

24. RESURRECTION Hero returns to ordinary world changed
Usually some mock death and resurrection (or real)
Very similar to the Ordeal
Hero Quickly Overcomes
Using learned skills

25. RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR
Comes back with the treasure!

26. Gods and Goddesses

27. Gods and Goddesses Beings of great power and influence
Often the deities present in much mythology
They vary greatly from culture to culture
Humanlike (Greek—difficult to distinguish from other mythological characters.)
Very non-human

28. Good and Evil

29. Good and Evil Central to life… thus central to mythology
These questions divide mythological thoughts on the concept:
What distinguishes good from evil?
Where do they originate from?
What powers do each possess?
Are they equals fighting an eternal battle with small victories awarded to each side?
Or… is one ultimately stronger than the other, only allowing time to pass before destroying its opponent once and for all?

30. Tricksters

31. Tricksters Those who cause trouble Often crude or profane
Sometimes portrayed as primary creators
This is often used as an explanation for the world’s problems
Most of their stories are comical
They are always within a sacred context (dealing with or being primary gods/goddesses)

32. Nature and Animals

33. Nature and Animals
One of the possible mythic functions—Natural Phenomena
Culture is fasinated with context

34. Fantastic Beasts

35. Fantastic Beasts Any animal/beast that does not actually exist
They add flavor to mythologies, but are not necessary for a tale to be considered mythic
Many, in fact, do not include them

36. The Themes and the Book Analysis
Creation Account (or any origins account that explains how something "came to be")
Heroes/ Heroic Journeys (Nearly every story will have some elements of this journey. Just follow the actions of the main character.)
Gods and Goddesses (This could manifest itself in any strong or powerful being/character that others are subjected to.)
Good and Evil (Also found in nearly all stories. "good guys/bad guys")
Trickster(s) (Any character that deliberately sets out to "trick", embarass, harass, or harm another character.)
Nature and Animals (Any reference to nature and animals as central themes or characters)
Fantastic Beasts (Reference to any creature that does not actually exist.)

37. Works Cited
Erdoes, Richard, and Alfonso Ortiz, eds. American Indian Trickster Tales. New York: Penguin, Hyde, Lewis. Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Leeming, David Adams. The World of Myth: An Anthology. New York: Oxford UP, Leeming, David Adams and Jake Page. God: Myths of the Male Divine. New York: Oxford UP, Radin, Paul. The Trickster: A Study in American Indian Mythology. 2nd ed. New York: Schocken, "Hero's Journey." Storytech Literary Consulting. n.d. Web. 25 Aug Bergman, Jerry. "The Origin of Creation Myths." n.d. Web. 22 Aug