The Nature of Myth:

• go to Powell's web site (Ch. 1):  click here (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)

Creation myths:

• basic questions for the initial creation (not applicable to all):
  
• Who are the original beings and what is the primary matter in the account?
• How or by what mechanism does creation occur?
• Who is the creator and what is the nature of the world that was created?
• How are the other deities created?
• What questions does the story answer and on what occasions is the story told or retold?
• basic questions for the creation of mortals (not applicable to all):
• Who is the creator of humans?
  
• How or by what mechanism does creation occur?
  
• Why are humans created (i.e. what role/purpose do they play in creation)?
  
• What questions does the story answer?
  
• know the following:
  
• Dogon: Amma, Earth Mother, Jackal, Nummo, 8 ancestors
• Norse: Niflheim, Muspelheim, Ginnungagap, Ymir, Audulma, Bor, Odin, Vili, Ve, Dwarves, Yggdrasill
• Greek: Chaos, Ouranos, Gaia, Kronus, Rhea, Zeus, sickle, Pontus, also go to Powell's web site for Ch 4 (click here) & Ch 5 (click here) (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)
• Iroquois:  Sky woman, the sorcerer, Tree of Light, darkness, Turtle, Sky woman's daughter, Bud, Sapling
• "Sumerian:" Ulligara & Zalgarra, Anu Enlil, Shamash, Ea Aruru, blood (Leonard) & go to Powell's web site for Ch 4 (click here) (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)
• Hittite: go to Powell's web site for Ch 4 (click here) (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)
• Hindu: Brahma, Narayana, Vishnu, Rudra, Supreme Spirit
  
• Hebrew: God, Adam, Eve, the Serpent, 'said', breath/spirit, dust, 2 creations of humans?
• Mayan: "Maker, Modeler, Bearer, Begetter"or Sovereign Plumed Serpent, "Heart of Sky" or Hurricane, names of the four first humans (Jaguar Quitze, Jaguar Night, Mahucutah, True Jaguar)
  

Myths of the Olympian Gods: Zeus and Hera

• go to Powell's web site (Ch 6): click here (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)

Possible Essay Questions (400-500 words long):

1. Examine the relationship between humanity and the 'gods' in the creation myths covered in Powell and Leonard's books. [FYI: make sure you cover several (i.e. 3 or more) different cultures; make sure you use examples from both Powell and Leonard]

2. What does a culture's creation myths tell us about its world view? [FYI: make sure you cover several different cultures; make sure you use examples from both Powell and Leonard]

3. Apply at least two theories (from those covered in class) to the Greek creation myths and to one other culture's creation myths (excluding the Hebrew, Sumerian, Mesopotamian/Hittite cultures). Also discuss why the cultures created these myths. [FYI: make sure you use examples from both Powell and Leonard]