A Brief Overview of Myth:
First, it must be admitted that the very term "myth" (as well as its function),
can be as hard to grasp as a greased pig on a hot day. It is safe to say that
there is much disagreement and speculation about the topic. Despite this problem,
Brunvand offers the following reasonable definition: "Myths, then, may be defined
as 'traditional prose narrative, which, in the society in which they are told,
are considered to be truthful accounts of what happened in the remote past.' Typically,
they deal with the activities of gods and demigods, the creation of the world
and its inhabitants, and the origin of religious ritual." While many folklorists,
anthropologists, and English teachers accept this stipulative definition, many
students have trouble with it--for the common "street" definition sees myth as
most often false and sometimes insignificant. After some study of myths, we soon
see why it is often said that myth is a way to make sense of an enigmatic or confusing
world. Though not always easy to understand, myths perhaps function as psychic
threads that help to hold our mental existence together. Perhaps most interesting,
at least to the folklorist, are the parallel myths and the recurring motifs involving
characters, plots, and symbols that make up so many myths. By "parallel"
I mean that the specific myth or motif seems somewhat universal to human experience.
In other words, regardless of where you go in the world, you will likely encounter
myths that explain the creation of man, animal, and plants; you are likely to
encounter a flood motif; you might hear that the Earth is the center of the universe;
and there is often a "fall from paradise." Brunvand refers to the small
"narrative elements" found in the myths as "motifs," and the Stith Thompson Motif-Index
of Folk-Literature that Brunvand discusses is in the COS Library. If you have
read any Jung or taken a course requiring literary analysis, you might have discussed
common narrative elements such as the few I have listed below:
RECURRING OR ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS:
The Hero:
often has many of the following attributes (to a greater or lesser extent these
attributes fit Oedipus, Jason, Moses, Jesus, Arthur, Robin Hood, and perhaps a
few of the movie heroes of today)
-
Hero's mom is virgin (or some other unique birth aspect is present)
-
Some attempt to kill him at birth
-
Sent away and raised by others
-
Little of childhood known
-
Returns to homeland
-
Is victorious over man or beast (saves the world, brings equilibrium)
-
Becomes king or leader
-
Loses favor
-
Death
The Scapegoat: An animal or human whose
public death removes some sin from the community
The Devil: Offers goods, fame, power,
or knowledge to protagonist in exchange for soul
The role of woman:
- Earth mother--offers spiritual or emotional help
-
Temptress--good looks causes the downfall of others
-
Unfaithful wife--dull guy, bored woman, Uh oh...
RECURRING OR ARCHETYPAL PLOT:
The quest: The
search for someone or something which, when found/returned, will restore community
The Task:
The hero must complete task to prove he is king, win a lady, or save a town
The fall: A descent from higher
to lower state
The creation:
The earth, man, animals are created
The marriage
between different species
The destruction
of the world
RECURRING SYMBOLS:
Light:
representing goodness; the opposite of darkness
Water:
representing rebirth
