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, EarthMother, Jackal, Nummo, 8 ancestors
• Norse: Niflheim, Muspell, Ginnungagap, Ymir, Audulma, Buri, Odin, Vili, Ve, Ask, Embla, Yggdrasill
• Greek: 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, Waterfowl, Beaver, Turtle, Sky woman's daughter, Bud, Sapling
• "Sumerian:" Ulligara & Zalgarra (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, Narayan
  
• Hebrew: Who are God, the physical world (in contrast to Sumerian), Adam, Eve,  & the Serpent, and what role do they play in the myth?
• 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 Male Divine" (Leonard & McClure, Ch. 4)

• Hindu: Arjuna, Krishna, relatives/the masses, Sanjaya, terms: karma & dharma
  
• Yoruba: Olorun, Orunmila, Eshu, orishas
• Norse: Odin, Thor, Hrungnir, Mist Calf, Mjollnir, Magni, Groa, Golden Mane
  

Myths of "The Trickster" (Leonard & McClure, Ch. 5)

• Ga:Anaanu, God, bees, python, leopard
  
• Yoruba: Ajapa, Aja, oba
• Wasco: Coyote, grizzly bears, meadow lark, 5 wolves, big dipper, big road
  
• Apache Coyote, rosehips, crows, dead buffalo
  
• Iroquois: Coyote, Saucy Duckfeather, Magpie Woman,
  
• Blackfoot: Coyote Man, Coyote Woman. medicine bag
  
• Norse: Thor, Sif, Loki, dwarves (sons of Ivaldi), dwarves (Brokk & Eitri), Mjollnir, other gifts
  
• Greek: see Powell, Ch 5 (click here) (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)

Possible Essay Questions (400-600 words long):

1. Evidence to draw from: Ch 2 from Leonard; Ch 4 from Powell; pdf of big bang
    Prompt: Compare/contrast the poetic version of the Big Bang with 2 of the creation (of all) myths we have covered, but exclude those you covered in your paper #1.

2. Evidence to draw from: Ch 2 from Leonard, Ch 4-5 from Powell.
    Prompt: We recently covered in class how myths share some similarities with science, with history, and with "social contracts." For 2-3 of the myths relating to the creation of humans which we have covered in class, demonstrate how the myths could be considered "good science" for that time and place.

3. Evidence to draw from: Ch 2, 4-5 from Leonard
    Prompt: We recently covered in class how myths share some similarities with science with history, and with "social contracts." For the Iroquois myth in Ch 2, the Hindu myth in Ch 4, and one of the myths in Ch 5, examine what similarities, if any, there are in the "social contracts" implicit in all three myths.