Gorgon's head
Gorgon's head on a silver coin of Naples
permission to use image granted
S12: CLA215, Mythology:
Topics for Paper 1
Apollo's head
The god Apollo on a gold coin of Syracuse
image courtesy of Edgar L. Owen, #3803

Directions:
  • electronic copy: e-mail me at victor.leuci@westminster-mo.edu); the name of your attached file should be:
  • S12-215-P1-Last Name, First Name  (e.g. S12-215-P1-Smith, Joan)
  • paper copy: bring to class
  • length: 600-1000ish
  • sources:
  • The selections assigned from our two textbooks and the two pdfs.
  • in-text citing reminders:
  • you must cite your sources of information (facts, theories, etc.)
  • textbooks: use author and page number, e.g. (Leonard & McClure, 134)
  • Norse pdf: use the chapter number and the numbers at the beginnings of paragraphs, e.g. (Prose Edda, 4.4)
  • Works Cited "Page" reminders:
  • at end of paper not on a separate sheet
  • only include entries for what you used in your paper
  • Norse myth: see the "phone" version of the work for how the entry should look
  • make sure the works cited entries is in the same font as your main text
  • make sure that you use hanging indents
  • writing intensive:
  • don't forget to turn in the draft copy with my or the Writing labs' comments on it for it to count towards your revised paper total (and don't forget to make the revisions!)
  • print this out and bring this to your writing lab conference and have the tutor sign here: ______________________________________
  • for more information, click here
    • Write on one of the topics below:

    1. Myth as "Proto-science". Since creation myths explain the origin of things, they can be looked on as "proto-science". Part of the scientific approach is coming up with hypotheses based on observation (the scientific approach involves much more than this, of course). Powell detailed how this can work for the creation myths from the Mesopotamian cultures. In your essay detail how this (see underlined above) can work for either the Mayan creation myth or the Norse creation myth (use the pdf for the Norse myth itself, but you may use the introduction the the myth in Leonard & McClure for information about their geography or you can use general knowledge about the geography and climate of Iceland).

    2. Myth as cultural affirmation. We have also seen that myths can affirm cultural traditions. Discuss with regard to either the Iroquois myth or the Hindu myth or the Dogon myth    .