Week 4 Lab: Crash Course Mythology

For the Story Lab in week 4, I decided to watch the Crash Course Mythology videos. The videos attempted to define myth, mythology, and explain their development.

The guys at Crash Course Mythology made clear that Myth is a story of great significance, or deep meaning, that has stood the test of time over centuries or even millennia. They also made a point to not get into whether mythology x is truth, and mythology y is fallacy. Instead, they simply explained that for myth it is just a story that could be true or false.

The videos mentioned that many people would not include fairy tales as myth because they are not about the origin, or destruction of the world. Crash Course Mythology understands the point, but they believe the scope of myth is a bit wider and should include hero stories as well as stories of gods and goddesses.

Mythology is simply the study of myth. It didn't grow much until the 18th and 19th century. In the 20th century, mythology and anthropology collided. Anthropologists studied myth, and its various versions. Some who study mythology claim that mythology symbolizes the belief many people. These mythical characters are a result of our unconscious. It makes harsh realities bearable with explanations through myth. Some claim that this is why we see similar stories in different parts of the world, because many people go through similar things and develop similar myths to explain them.

Joseph Campbell suggested the idea of a monomyth. Campbell believes that we long for wisdom and understanding of our place in the world. He claims that hero stories and myths are a result of environmental factors that form in the human subconscious. We each go through many of the same things. There are 17 parts to his human monomyth. First, the hero receives a call to destiny from a supernatural figure. Then they meet the threshold guardian. They usually almost die. Next, the hero starts to transform into the hero they must become. The hero usually encounters a woman who allows them to prove their maturity. They usually encounter a monster next. After encountering the monster they become enlightened. The hero has evolved into their greatest form. At this point they must return to normal life/society. It is often hard for the hero to get back into their normal life. Who wants to go from a hero back to normal? In the end, they end up where they started, usually in peace, in the "mythological equivalent to happily ever after" - Crash Course Mythology

Scylla - Fallen Sword

Crash Course Mythology, Videos 1, 12, and 25, Mike Rugnetta

Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey (Part A)

Homer's Odyssey part A was really entertaining. I was not sure what to expect from it. Many years ago I read it; in middle school I believe. At the time it was a tough read, but the snippets we read in part A were fascinating. 

It begins with Odysseus and his crew arriving at the shores of a cyclops filled island. Odysseus and his men entered the cave of a cyclops by the name of Polyphemus. The crew wished to simply steal some of the many goats and rams that Polyphemus had rounded up in pens. Unfortunately Odysseus did not listen to the crew and decided to meet they cyclops in hopes that he would be hospitable to the crew. Polyphemus arrived and had no desire to be kind to the men. He ate two of them and closed the exit so the rest of the men could not get out. The next morning he ate two more men, and then he left for his daily activities. In the meantime, Odysseus and the men devised a plan to escape. 

When Polyphemus arrived at the cave from his daily activities Odysseus gave him several wine skins full of fresh wine. The giant cyclops became sleepy and fell into a heavy rest. The men grabbed Polyphemus' giant club and shoved it in his giant eye. Since his vision was impaired, the men strapped themselves to the bellies of the sheep. The next morning Polyphemus let the sheep out to graze and the men snuck out with them. 

Later, Odysseus and his crew landed on Circe's island. He sent half of the men to explore a fire they saw from the shoreline. The men encountered the house of Circe, and her many lions and wolves. Surprisingly, the lions and wolves did not attack the men, but it was because they were under a spell. Circe invited the men in and gave them food and drink that had been laced with magic drugs. Circe turned the men into pigs! One of the men snuck away and reported the news to Odysseus. 

Upon hearing the news, Odysseus set out for Circe's house in order to free the men. On the way, Hermes met Odysseus and gave him a root that would make him immune to Circe's spells. It happened just as Hermes said, and Odysseus was immune. This amazed Circe, and she agreed to help him rather than hurt him. All of the men were changed back to humans and she fed them and housed them for almost a year. Odysseus prompted Circe to let them leave in peace and she gave him instructions to find the route home.

Circe and her gentle Lions - Wikipedia

Homer's Odyssey, Book 9-12, Homer