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Mythology and Academic Context

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Mythology and Academic Context
Foundations of Mythology Short Answers
How is the word myth used popularly? For example, what does the statement, “It’s a myth” mean? In contrast, how is the word myth used in the academic context? After considering the definition in your textbooks and course materials, write a definition in your own words.
The word myth is used popularly in stories or tales that have been told over periods of time that are usually not completely true, but are told in way to be believed as true ("The white hat," 2010). The statement, “It’s a myth” means or refers to something that is not fully true, but it is claimed to be true. It’s basically like if some random person was to tell you a story that something happened to them that was seen as farfetched, in reality no one really knows if it actually happened or not. In contrast, the word myth in academic context is used as follows; Myths are ancient narratives that attempt to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions such as: How did the universe and world come to be? How did we come to be here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles as we relate to one another and to the world at large? What should our values be? How should we behave or not behave? What are the consequences of behaving and not behaving in such ways (Leonard & McClure, 2004)? My definition of a myth would be a farfetched story that we really do not know if it is true or not that are usually told to children to either inspire them or scare them.
Why do myths from different cultures around the world address such similar or universal themes? Think about how myths explain the unknown and the tribulations of mankind.
Throughout time and history people around the world all wanted to know who created the earth, animals, mankind, and etc.
Foundations of Mythology Short Answers
How is the word myth used popularly? For example, what does the statement, “It’s a myth” mean? In contrast, how is the word myth used in the academic

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