World Mythology
World Mythology
January 22, 2013
Ms. Elisabeth Nicholes
HUM/105
How is the word myth used popularly? The word myth is used popularly is something that is made up that some one believes. One myth from my childhood that most people believe or have tried is bloody marry. Some believe that if you stare in the mirror with the light off and call her name three times that she will appear in the mirror. There are different versions of this but to me this is what a myth is. According to dictionary.reference.com “a traditional story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.”(para.1). A myth is someone or something that is made up to scare or excite one’s imagination. It is also to give someone hope there is something else there for the unexplained.
*
Why do myths from different cultures around the world address such similar or universal themes? According to tree.com “Myths help man to make order out of chaos or explain things in nature that he cannot understand. Often, myths are based on ideas that affect all human beings, regardless of geography or race.”(para. 4). For example two tribes that are less than 100 miles apart are doing the same thing but believe the cause of their actions are different. One tribe believes that bathing in a certain spring will get them pregnant even thou it is known for the people in this tribe to have sex multiple out of the week until they are pregnant. This came about from the first woman in their tribe to notice that whenever she was trying to get pregnant that she would bath in the spring. The other tribe believed there is a certain drink that is made to become pregnant even though is was a drink that the tribe drank weekly. Having sex multiple times out of the week. As such, many myths seem to be the same just different
January 22, 2013
Ms. Elisabeth Nicholes
HUM/105
How is the word myth used popularly? The word myth is used popularly is something that is made up that some one believes. One myth from my childhood that most people believe or have tried is bloody marry. Some believe that if you stare in the mirror with the light off and call her name three times that she will appear in the mirror. There are different versions of this but to me this is what a myth is. According to dictionary.reference.com “a traditional story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.”(para.1). A myth is someone or something that is made up to scare or excite one’s imagination. It is also to give someone hope there is something else there for the unexplained.
*
Why do myths from different cultures around the world address such similar or universal themes? According to tree.com “Myths help man to make order out of chaos or explain things in nature that he cannot understand. Often, myths are based on ideas that affect all human beings, regardless of geography or race.”(para. 4). For example two tribes that are less than 100 miles apart are doing the same thing but believe the cause of their actions are different. One tribe believes that bathing in a certain spring will get them pregnant even thou it is known for the people in this tribe to have sex multiple out of the week until they are pregnant. This came about from the first woman in their tribe to notice that whenever she was trying to get pregnant that she would bath in the spring. The other tribe believed there is a certain drink that is made to become pregnant even though is was a drink that the tribe drank weekly. Having sex multiple times out of the week. As such, many myths seem to be the same just different