Purpose of Myths Review

1. Name four fundamental questions that myths address.

• What is the nature of the universe in which i live?
• How do I relate to that universe?
• How much control do I have over my own life?
• What must I do in order to survive?

2. Name four themes in world mythology

• The first parents are often the gods of sky and earth.
• The creator-god usually fashions the first human beings from parts of the earth
• the gods destroy at least one world of mortals by causing a great flood
• In the world as in nature, birth, maturity, and death are often followed by rebirth.

3. What is the beginning of the universe for most major cultures?

The beginning of the universe is usually described as a chaotic, formless mass that a god or pair of gods separates. Then, the gods multiply so that each can have his or her own role in the universal scheme. The creator-god then brings life to earth, such as plants, animals, and human beings. 

4. What do hero myths and epics teach members of society?

The heroic myths and epics of a society teach its members the appropriate attitudes, behavior, and values of that culture. 

5. Why do ordinary people identify with heroes 

Ordinary people identify with heroes because the heroes possess human weakness and imperfections that all people can relate to.

6. What is the foundation of Matriarchal society.

The foundation of the Matriarchal society is the agriculture year. 

7. What is Sigmund Freud's view of myths? 

Sigmund Freud's viewed myths as the expression of the individuals unconscious wishes, fears, drives, and desires.

8. Myths demonstrate that people possess...

Their myths demonstrate that they possess the intellectual capacity to understand the world in which they live.