1. MYTHS, LEGENDS, AND FOUNDATION STORIES
Introductory Lecture
Please be prepared to TAKE NOTES!

2. What is a myth?
Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary defines myth as “A traditional story, usu. focusing on the deeds of gods and heroes, often in explanation of some natural phenomenon, as the origin of the sun, etc.”
The word myth comes from the Greek word mythos, which means “word, speech, story”.

3. What is a legend?
Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary defines legend as “An unauthenticated story from earlier times, preserved by tradition and popularly thought to be historical.”
The word legend comes from the Latin word legere, which means “to read”.

4. What is a foundation story?
A foundation story is a story with modern religious connections.
We need to examine these stories with sensitivity and understanding.
Many people in the world today believe these stories, either literally or metaphorically.

5. What do these types of stories have in common?
Tradition
A history of being “passed down” through the generations
They provide explanations of things (e.g. – natural phenomena, historical events, et cetera)

6. Why study myths, legends, and foundation stories?
Historical Interest
Why do we take history classes?
Myths and legends are the beliefs of earlier cultures (in some cases – e.g. – Greek, Norse – these stories formed the basis for their religion)
Comparing similarities between cultures is interesting

7. Why study myths, legends, and foundation stories?
Shared Points of Reference
Allusions to these stories in literature
There is something fascinating about knowing what your ancestors studied; it gives us a sense of continuity
Again, patterns are important here

8. Why study myths, legends, and foundation stories?
Tradition
Remember the dictionary definition of myth: “A traditional story…”
These stories just keep getting passed along
Is tradition a good enough reason to study these stories?

9. Why study myths, legends, and foundation stories?
Moral Lessons
Often, the stories are meant to teach us lessons about what is right and wrong (i.e. – values)
Is there a universal “right” or “wrong”? Philosophers call this idea “absolute morality” versus “relative morality”
We are on tricky ground here, though; moral lessons often reflect culture, and culture can change
This idea speaks to many of the religious origins of the stories

10. Why study myths, legends, and foundation stories?
Recognition of “Collective Unconscious”
Idea formulated by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung ( )
Symbol patterns (e.g. – father, mother, hero) are hard-wired into the human brain
He called these symbol patterns archetypes
Once again, we are studying the connections and similarities in the stories

11. Why study myths, legends, and foundation stories?
They are Good Stories!
They appeal to us at the “story” level (fun to read)
Excitement, passion, interest
Good authors (e.g. – Homer, Ovid, et cetera)

12. Why study myths, legends, and foundation stories?
Appreciation of Metaphor
Literature students need a keen grasp of metaphor
Students who understand metaphor often have creative, intelligent minds
Metaphor = a comparison, a way of thinking about the world that is not literal
Examples: the sun is Apollo’s chariot racing across the sky; winter is Hades kidnapping Persephone and making Demeter sad

13. Things to remember about studying these stories…
Historical Context
The people who believed these stories were not “stupid”; these stories were often the best explanations at the time for the events they describe
Remember that, a thousand years from now, future generations will look at some of our beliefs in the same way

14. Things to remember about studying these stories…
Multiple Versions
These stories were frequently transmitted orally; once created, they can change a lot
What we study today is usually the best known and/or most popular version of the stories
Example: the Disney film Hercules has a great many changes from the story we will read in Deeds of Gods and Heroes

15. Things to remember about studying these stories…
Similar Things Today
Sci-fi and fantasy (e.g. – Star Wars, Lord of the Rings
Comics and superheroes (e.g. – Superman, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, Batman, Spiderman)
Urban legends
Modern religious tradition preserves some of these stories in various forms

16. The Focus of our Studies:
1) Recognition of Common Allusions
2) Recognition of Patterns
3) Relevance to Today

17. The Focus of our Studies:
1) Recognition of Common Allusions
There are a certain minimum number of characters and ideas associated with these stories of which all educated people should be aware (e.g. – Adam and Eve, Hercules, Zeus, Thor, et cetera)
We will use some of this knowledge later in the course when studying Shakespeare, who relied heavily on both biblical and mythological allusions

18. The Focus of our Studies:
2) Recognition of Patterns
Similarities from culture to culture
Recognition of our “common humanity”
Verification of the Jungian theory of archetypes
It is hoped that this study will lead to acceptance, understanding, and tolerance of other cultures and beliefs

19. The Focus of our Studies:
3) Relevance to Today
Stories like these stories are still around
Notice the patterns
We will be studying the film Star Wars as an illustration of the universality of the hero story
Modern religions (e.g. – Christianity, Judaism, Islam) are still very much with us today; being aware of some of their foundation stories is important

20. QUESTIONS?