INTRO TO MYTHOLOGY What is myth Myth and
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INTRO TO MYTHOLOGY? • • • What is myth? Myth and related genres What is mythology? Mythology as science Mythology as religion
WHAT IS MYTH? • The word “myth” originates in the Greek word mythos, meaning speech or utterance. • The evolution of the word’s meaning Fact ------------- Fiction True ------------- False History ------------ Story Speech Narrative Tale • Myth: A narrative which is not factually exact but still containing a sense of credibility in and for itself.
MYTH AND RELATED GENRES-1 • Saga: Originally an Icelandic term applied to supposedly true histories of families/clans or of kings. Narrative which has a basis in history (Dowden, 1992). • Legend: Originally traditional stories about saints. “Any myth with only a kernel of truth and historicity (Dowden, 1992). ”
MYTH AND RELATED GENRES-2 • Folk-tale: Translation of the German word Märchen. Traditional tales which ordinary folk used as a sort of moralising entertainment. They tend to depict types rather than individuals. • Myth: Tales which do not fall into the categories given above (Dowden, 1992).
WHAT IS MYTHOLOGY? • Mythology: A shared fund of motifs and ideas ordered into a shared repertoire of stories. These stories link with, compare and contrast with, and are understood in the light of, other stories in the system (Dowden, 1992).
MYTHOLOGY AS SCIENCE • Mythology functioned as a set of ideas by which people could use in order to explain natural phenomena.
MYTHOLOGY AS RELIGION • Mythology was also a belief system, namely a polytheistic religion in ancient Greece. Hence it permeated the ancient Greek society and also regulated social conduct.
