Myth and Folk

Course Description

*Course and materials adapted from the great Ty Devoe

Welcome to Myth and Folk.

People have always been mythmakers, trying to find explanations to events occurring in the surrounding world. Animals, for example, watch each other die but, as far as we know, they give the matter no further consideration. Yet even the primitive treasures in the graves of Neanderthal tribes demonstrate and attempt to form a counter-narrative to death. Human beings are meaning-seeking creatures. From the very beginning we invented stories that enabled us to place our lives in a larger setting, revealed an underlying pattern, and gave us a sense that, against all the often depressing and chaotic evidence to the contrary, life had meaning and value.

The study of mythology, particularly in its relevance to our daily lives, can yield rich results for the dedicated student. Our approach to mythology and folklore this semester will grant you the opportunity for cultural awareness and self-discovery. It is largely psychology and sociology through mythology. I hope you walk away knowledgeable and enlightened.

With that said, let’s look at the course itself. The principle goal of this course is to give you a working familiarity with the major mythos of the world, particularly the myths of Classical Greece and, to a lesser extent, Rome, mainly through examining primary sources, both literary and visual, with a particular focus on the role of heroes. We will also examine the nature and social function of mythology, studying a number of different ancient and modern theories. Also considered will be legacy of classical mythology in modern art and literature, including popular culture. Students will learn how mythic narrative patterns and symbols function in western culture. We will also delve into Norse, Arthurian, Egyptian, Indian, Native American, and many other cultural stories. Assignments in this course are designed to give you the freedom to explore your own humanity through extensive writing and reading; I hope you will think, reflect, and grow. The essential question that we will continually explore throughout our journey through mythology is: "Is being human something good, bad, tragic, or evil?" Your opinion on this matter may change frequently as you ponder human nature, the human condition, and your own life and role in this world. You will be discussing a great deal with your peers and your currently held beliefs will either be challenged and changed, or your current beliefs will be further solidified. In either case, you will think, reflect, and grapple with issues important to every human being at various stages of life.

Posts

10/14/15--Class Info

**Sorry this is a day late. I had a family emergency come up and was unable to post this sooner.**
 
Today was a review day with the midterm review sheet.
HW: 1. Draft 2 of personal statement due Monday. 2. Study for midterm.

10/13/15--Class Info

*Today you got the options for student help tomorrow. Remember that these are only available during the times listed on the sheet.
*Today your 1st draft of the personal statement was due and you self-edited your paper. Make sure you actually edit the draft for the second draft due on the 19th. Don't bring the same draft!
HW: finish reading "Parsifal" and "Perseus"

10/12/15--Class Info

*We read and briefly discussed the myths of "The Fair Unknown", "Gilgamesh", and "Vainamoinen". You need read "Parsifal" and "Perseus" tonight. Remember to keep up with your myth trackers. You have a midterm on Thursday and you will be allowed to use your myth trackers. I will collect the myths I gave you today on Wednesday, to give you some time to fill out your myth tracker for them.
HW: 1. Draft 1 of Personal Statement due tomorrow. 2. Read "Parsifal" and "Perseus"

10/09/15--Class Info

*Today you received your assignment for the personal statement and began the brainstorming process.
HW: Draft #1 of personal statement due Tuesday, October 13th.

10/08/15--Class Info

*Today in class you discussed all the chapters of Generation Me in small groups. This was the first time I tried an activity like this, and overall, I am very happy with the results. I really enjoyed listening in on the conversations you were having. You all are more intelligent and thoughtful than you may realize. What I was really most pleased about was the fact that you all were going back to your annotations so frequently and pulling out information and talking points directly from the text. Today was a great example of what many college classes look like...not the large lecture hall classes, but the smaller, more intimate classes. Well done.
*I collected the response sheet for period 3, I will collect it for period 5 tomorrow since your conversations were a little richer and longer than some in period 3.
HW: finish the response sheet from discussion.

10/07/15--Class Info

*Today you were in groups based on your chapter of Generation Me. These were the things you discussed in your groups:
1. Specific areas you found interesting and why
2. Specific areas you agreed with and why
3. Specific areas you disagreed with and why
4. Specific areas you didn't understand and why
5. Any questions for further discussion this brought up for you...tangent ideas the chapter brought up?
6. Apply/relate to your own life--myths we read, experiences, other classes, other things you have read, heard or seen...does your experience support or conflict with what you read in the chapter?
7. Is there anything in the chapter that is outdated since it was published in 2006?
HW: nothing...tomorrow you will be in groups so you get to hear about the other chapters. Be prepared to share out and discuss some of the major points of your chapter.