ELEMENTS OF A MYTH ARCHETYPES Commonly seen character

ELEMENTS OF A MYTH

ARCHETYPES • Commonly seen character types that are used across all cultures • Tricksters

CHARACTERIZATION • Characters are very few • Animated, inanimate, or personified gods or humans with super or god like traits. • The gods or heroes can take the form of human, but are immortal with super natural powers. • Attributes can be for good or bad: wise, foolish, love, hate, virtuous, evil, … • In a more modern sense the beings may be superheroes.

SETTING • Place is culturally relevant. • Time is past realistic time. • Natural elements are important.

PLOT • The plot will most likely include plenty of action, suspense, and basic conflict. • Offer explanations about the beginnings of the world or natural phenomenon. • May also focus on difficult tasks or obstacles to be overcome. • Plot deals with relationships between humans and gods/ superheroes, or gods/ superheroes and gods/ superheroes, the way people accept or fulfill their destiny, and human's struggle with god and evil forces both within themselves and outside themselves. • Others plots tell how the world began, how people were made, how seasons change, animals have certain characteristics, how the moon, sun, and earth interact…

MYTHOLOGY • A collection or set of myths becomes a Mythology. • A mythology can have a connected plot about an institution, situation, behavior, or happening that provides an explanation of power through force or energy in human form. With the force or energy used to control nature, people, or a complex situation. This control is traditionally exercised by gods with godly attributes.

THEME • Explains natural phenomena, origins of life, human behavior, social phenomena, religious customs, human strengths, weaknesses or lessons for life. • Style • Reflects culture's customs, values, and beliefs. • Reflection of human strengths, frailities, weaknesses, or imperfections. • Usually includes supernatural beings or events. • Believe main character can survive all obstacles to achieve goal. • Tone • Reader is lead to new insights and/or understandings. • Point of View • Often third person narrative.

STYLE • Reflects culture's customs, values, and beliefs. • Reflection of human strengths, frailities, weaknesses, or imperfections. • Usually includes supernatural beings or events. • Believe main character can survive all obstacles to achieve goal.

TONE • Teaching • Reader is lead to new insights and/or understandings.

POINT OF VIEW • Often third person narrative.

RESOURCES • http: //www. homeofbob. com/literature/genre/fict ion/folktales/myth. Legnd. Elmnts. html