MythologyMythology

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

A. What is Mythology?A. What is Mythology?Myths are the stories that Myths are the stories that show us and link us to the show us and link us to the universal forces in the universal forces in the universe.universe.

B. How does mythology work?B. How does mythology work?1. symbolism1. symbolism2. the sub-conscious2. the sub-conscious

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

3. gods and 3. gods and

goddesses—the per-goddesses—the per-

sonification of forces sonification of forces

in the human psyche in the human psyche

and in the universeand in the universe

ZeusZeusHeraHeraHadesHades PoseidonPoseidonDemeterDemeterHestiaHestia

Phoebus ApolloPhoebus ApolloArtemis (Diana)Artemis (Diana)AthenaAthenaAphroditeAphroditeAresAresHermesHermesHephaestusHephaestusDionysusDionysus

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

C. Joseph Campbell’s Ten C. Joseph Campbell’s Ten Commandments for Reading Myth Commandments for Reading Myth (see handout)(see handout)

I.I. IntroductionIntroductionD. Definitions of Myth—D. Definitions of Myth—see handoutssee handouts

MOYERS: I came to understand from reading your books--MOYERS: I came to understand from reading your books--The The Masks of GodMasks of God or or The Hero with a Thousand FacesThe Hero with a Thousand Faces, for , for example--that what human beings have in common is revealed example--that what human beings have in common is revealed in myths. Myths are stories of our search through the ages for in myths. Myths are stories of our search through the ages for truth, for meaning, for significance. We all need to tell our story truth, for meaning, for significance. We all need to tell our story and to understand our story. We all need to understand death and to understand our story. We all need to understand death and to cope with death, and we all need help in our passages and to cope with death, and we all need help in our passages from birth to life and, then to death. We need for life to signify, from birth to life and, then to death. We need for life to signify, to touch the eternal, to understand the mysterious, to find out to touch the eternal, to understand the mysterious, to find out who we are.who we are.

CAMPBELL: People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning CAMPBELL: People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances with our own innermost being and reality, so that resonances with our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.we actually feel the rapture of being alive.

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

E.E. The Mythic Journey—the journey of our The Mythic Journey—the journey of our lives—the Four lives—the Four

Great RitualsGreat Rituals

1. birth1. birth

2. sexual maturity2. sexual maturity

3. marriage (and 3. marriage (and

perhaps new births)perhaps new births)

4. death4. death

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

F.F. The MonomythThe Monomyth

1. Beginning1. Beginning

2. Call to Adventure2. Call to Adventure

3. Crossing the Threshold3. Crossing the Threshold

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

4. Journey in the other World4. Journey in the other World

5. Peak Experience5. Peak Experience

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

6. Return to the Old World / Life6. Return to the Old World / Life

(with a Boon, gift [wisdom, (with a Boon, gift [wisdom, elixer, elixer, etc.])etc.])

II. Major MythsII. Major Myths

A. Minos – Daedalus – TheseusA. Minos – Daedalus – Theseus

1. basic plot (see handout for key 1. basic plot (see handout for key pts.)pts.)

II. Major MythsII. Major Myths

2. What the Minos-Daedalus-2. What the Minos-Daedalus-Theseus Theseus Myth might meanMyth might mean

II. Major MythsII. Major Myths

B. Background Mythology to the Iliad (handout)B. Background Mythology to the Iliad (handout)

1. The Golden Apple1. The Golden Apple

2. The Hidden Prince2. The Hidden Prince

3. The Most Beautiful Woman in the World3. The Most Beautiful Woman in the World

II. Major MythsII. Major Myths

C. The House of Atreus (bkgd to Iliad C. The House of Atreus (bkgd to Iliad 2)2)

II. Major MythsII. Major Myths

D.D. The Story of the IliadThe Story of the Iliad

1. Achilles’ Rage1. Achilles’ Rage

2. Agammemnon2. Agammemnon

II. Major MythsII. Major Myths

3. Patrocles and Hector3. Patrocles and Hector

4. Achilles and Hector4. Achilles and Hector

5. Achilles and Priam5. Achilles and Priam

II. Major MythsII. Major Myths

C. Eros and Psyche (see handout)C. Eros and Psyche (see handout)

III. ConclusionIII. Conclusion

Why Myths are importantWhy Myths are important

Asking the Universal QuestionsAsking the Universal Questions