1. Myths are traditional stories that serve many purposes:
What is a myth?
Myths are traditional stories that serve many purposes:
Myths give meaning to life
Myths explain the unexplainable (How did I get here?)
Myths explain natural phenomena
Myths provide guidelines for living

2. Myths have…. (according to our discussion)
Gods who create the earth, humans and animals--often out of common materials.
Gods that have human characteristics
Conflict
Answers to the questions: Why am I here? Why do things happen?
A moral or lesson

3. Mythic Pattern Situation or Challenge
These elements often occur as a mythic pattern.
Many myths contain these elements and they occur over and over again.
Situation or Challenge
Moral or Lesson
Main character goes on a journey
Resolution: Problem solved
Confrontation

4. CHALLENGE
There is usually a problem, situation or challenge that confronts the main character.
This is where the main character usually experiences conflict

5. JOURNEY
Very often, the main character embarks on a journey, either to meet the challenge or to solve the problem presented.

6. CONFRONTATION
The situation or challenge is resolved by the main character.
Here, the main character finds the answers, defeats an enemy, or learns something essential.

7. RESOLUTION
The mythic character solves the problem and thus, the myth is concluded.

8. LESSON OR MORAL There is a lesson or “moral to the story”.
In its conclusion, the myth provides us with an answer, an explanation, or an important idea.

9. Mythic Pattern Review Purposes of myth include………
Often, these occur in a mythic cycle.
Many myths have a mythic pattern. The mythic pattern often contains these:
__________ _________
__________