What is Myth and Folklore all about?
Statue of Zeus
Students in this course will learn the purposes and effects of mythology and folklore. Students will compare and contrast the myths and folktales of various eras and cultures, including Greek and Roman, Norse, Aztec, Asian and Native American, to determine how and why societies use such stories. Students will also explore the lasting impact of mythology and folklore, investigating how cultures today react to and or reflect the lessons of these stories.
Course Breakdown: Major texts and assignments are listed below. Throughout the course we will read various poems and short stories that relate to the fictional characters we’re studying or that re-tell or re-imagine some of these myths and folktales.
Unit One: Introduction to myths and gods
o Types of gods; universal archetypes
o Gods project and quiz on gods
Unit Two: Creation Myths
o Comparison of creation myths of various cultures
o Creation Myth projects and test on creation myths
Unit Three: The Hero’s Journey
o Conception of the hero and childhood; the quest motif
o Reading of The Odyssey, film analysis of O Brother, Where Art Thou?
o Application of the stages of the journey myth
o Comparison to “Gilgamesh”
o Discussion of cultural conceptions of the Underworld/After life
Excerpts from Dante’s Inferno
o Test on The Odyssey
Unit Three: Introduction to folktales
o King Arthur-the difference between myths, legends, and folktales
o Development of folktales and purpose of
o Universal elements of: a close study of versions of “Cinderella”
Unit Four: Kinds of folktales (readings and order subject to change)
o Animal tales
o Tales of proper behavior: “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Little Red Riding Hood,”
“Snow White”
o Tricksters and Devils: “Rumpelstiltskin,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Ananse”
o Tales of the family: “Hansel and Gretel”
o Final assessment on folktales-essay or test
o Local legends and folklore project (if time)
o Final project
Unit One: Introduction to myths and gods
o Types of gods; universal archetypes
o Gods project and quiz on gods
Unit Two: Creation Myths
o Comparison of creation myths of various cultures
o Creation Myth projects and test on creation myths
Unit Three: The Hero’s Journey
o Conception of the hero and childhood; the quest motif
o Reading of The Odyssey, film analysis of O Brother, Where Art Thou?
o Application of the stages of the journey myth
o Comparison to “Gilgamesh”
o Discussion of cultural conceptions of the Underworld/After life
Excerpts from Dante’s Inferno
o Test on The Odyssey
Unit Three: Introduction to folktales
o King Arthur-the difference between myths, legends, and folktales
o Development of folktales and purpose of
o Universal elements of: a close study of versions of “Cinderella”
Unit Four: Kinds of folktales (readings and order subject to change)
o Animal tales
o Tales of proper behavior: “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Little Red Riding Hood,”
“Snow White”
o Tricksters and Devils: “Rumpelstiltskin,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Ananse”
o Tales of the family: “Hansel and Gretel”
o Final assessment on folktales-essay or test
o Local legends and folklore project (if time)
o Final project