Myth

Foundations of Mythology

Dexter Smith

HUM/105

February 08, 2012

Felix Figuereo

Foundations of Mythology

How is the word myth used popularly?

The study of myth or stories is mythology, many cultures use stories as a tradition or belief that one may have. Myths are legends passed down to each generation. One may believe that the stories that have been told from generation to generation about Greek gods are myths only stories told to amuse the young. When viewing mythology as an academic study mythology is used in different settings. The classic definition of myth described in William Bascom’s article are tales believed as true, usually sacred, set in the distant past or other worlds or parts of the world with extra-human, inhuman, or heroic characters (Leeming, 1990, 3, 13; Bascom, 1965). Myths are facts that have been changed over time through people’s point of view; this statement is my definition of the word myth.

Why do myths from different cultures around the world address such similar or universal themes?

The world has many cultures and beliefs in one God but each culture has their own view and belief of who or what that God is. Some of the remnants of the stories are left to show some proof. Every culture believes that there is a God and have different but similar stories of the existence of him. No matter the how the story is told each culture is trying to tell explain the same thing. Mythology differs from religion; both refer to concepts that are important. Mythology is considered a form of religion. Simply put mythology is a culture’s way of educating people and understanding with the world. Through poems, scrolls, and stories, etc. Some cultures used stories to pass down to each generation as a tradition that is no different from the books, scrolls, or any written word used in other cultures. Leonard, and McClure, M says (myths are ancient narratives that attempt to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions, where we come from and...