The document discusses various perspectives on the definition and functions of myth. It explores how myths can serve cosmological, historical, and sociological functions by reflecting human experiences and desires. Myths often address enduring themes like the search for immortality and acts as a path for self-understanding. The document also examines the work of mythologists like Joseph Campbell and the idea that myths may represent allegorical versions of actual events or bring wonder and meaning to life.

1. The Functions of MythThe Functions of Myth

2.  There are almost as many definitions for myth asThere are almost as many definitions for myth as
there are mythologists.there are mythologists.
 In addition, mythologists give varying reasons forIn addition, mythologists give varying reasons for
the existence of myth.the existence of myth.
 Modern society terms the lives and reputations ofModern society terms the lives and reputations of
celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis ascelebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis as
“mythical.” While these people are far from mythic,“mythical.” While these people are far from mythic,
our society has changed the meaning of the word toour society has changed the meaning of the word to
meet our standards.meet our standards.

3. Barry PowellBarry Powell
 Powell traces the history of myth, saying we shouldPowell traces the history of myth, saying we should
not confuse myth with religion.not confuse myth with religion.
 The ancients didn’t have a word for myth, per se,The ancients didn’t have a word for myth, per se,
but “myth” is derived from the Greek “muthos,”but “myth” is derived from the Greek “muthos,”
meaning a narration or story (or at least by Homer’smeaning a narration or story (or at least by Homer’s
time, circa 700 BCE). The stories were nottime, circa 700 BCE). The stories were not
necessarily fantastical, but were considerednecessarily fantastical, but were considered
historical accounts (4).historical accounts (4).
 Powell seems to ignore the evolution of languagePowell seems to ignore the evolution of language
and how cultures interpret and reinterpret theand how cultures interpret and reinterpret the
meanings of words.meanings of words.

4.  One definition of “true” myth—by mostOne definition of “true” myth—by most
mythologists—is that myths aremythologists—is that myths are
anonymous, having no known author,anonymous, having no known author,
but there are exceptions to this rule.but there are exceptions to this rule.
Robert Graves says that HesiodRobert Graves says that Hesiod
composed the tale of Pandora, but hercomposed the tale of Pandora, but her
tale is widely accepted as a “myth”tale is widely accepted as a “myth”
because of the definition modernbecause of the definition modern
humans use.humans use.

5. Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell
 Campbell explains that myth is the path toCampbell explains that myth is the path to
self understanding by establishing aself understanding by establishing a
connection with the past. Without thisconnection with the past. Without this
connection, we must rediscover old mythsconnection, we must rediscover old myths
or make our own (9).or make our own (9).
 Myths help deal with our reality; they areMyths help deal with our reality; they are
tales to live by. They are the dreams of thetales to live by. They are the dreams of the
world (19).world (19).

6. Campbell’s Functions ofCampbell’s Functions of
MythMyth
1. Myth is mystical, giving a sense of1. Myth is mystical, giving a sense of
wonder and mystery to the universe.wonder and mystery to the universe.
The mystery makes the universe aThe mystery makes the universe a
holy picture, giving us a sense ofholy picture, giving us a sense of
awe and the desire to know more;awe and the desire to know more;
myth attempts to explain the mystery.myth attempts to explain the mystery.

7. 2. Myth is cosmological: the element of2. Myth is cosmological: the element of
science, explaining how the universescience, explaining how the universe
works. The mystery remains, though,works. The mystery remains, though,
because when we light a match, we canbecause when we light a match, we can
talk about oxidation, but that really doesn’ttalk about oxidation, but that really doesn’t
explain it to most people. i.e. we knowexplain it to most people. i.e. we know
how conception and birth takes place, buthow conception and birth takes place, but
the sense of mystery about life remains.the sense of mystery about life remains.

8. 3. Myth is sociological; it gives us a3. Myth is sociological; it gives us a
sense of belonging and validates oursense of belonging and validates our
social order, giving us ethical laws tosocial order, giving us ethical laws to
live by. The Jewish Tenlive by. The Jewish Ten
Commandments (adapted fromCommandments (adapted from
earlier laws) is an example.earlier laws) is an example.

9. 4. Myth has a pedagogical function; it4. Myth has a pedagogical function; it
tells us how to live a human lifetimetells us how to live a human lifetime
under any circumstances. It gives usunder any circumstances. It gives us
lessons on how to behave andlessons on how to behave and
connects us with people in the pastconnects us with people in the past
who had similar problems orwho had similar problems or
situations (38-39).situations (38-39).

10. J. F. BierleinJ. F. Bierlein
 Bierlein’s definition or explanation ofBierlein’s definition or explanation of
myth is much like Campbell’s. Themyth is much like Campbell’s. The
following criteria is found in Bierlein’sfollowing criteria is found in Bierlein’s
book on page 5.book on page 5.

11. 1. Myth is a constant among all human1. Myth is a constant among all human
beings in all times. All societies havebeings in all times. All societies have
a mythos.a mythos.
2. Myth is a telling of events that2. Myth is a telling of events that
happened before written history, andhappened before written history, and
a sense of what is to come.a sense of what is to come.

12. 3. Myth is a unique use of language3. Myth is a unique use of language
[. . .] linking us between the conscious[. . .] linking us between the conscious
and the unconscious. It deals withand the unconscious. It deals with
the supernatural and with deity.the supernatural and with deity.
4. Myth is the glue holding societies4. Myth is the glue holding societies
together.together.

13. 5. Myth is essential in all codes of moral5. Myth is essential in all codes of moral
conduct (Sociological).conduct (Sociological).
6. Myth gives us patterns of belief that6. Myth gives us patterns of belief that
give meaning to life (Pedagogical).give meaning to life (Pedagogical).

14. Different Types of MythDifferent Types of Myth
 Myth serves various functions within aMyth serves various functions within a
culture. Different myths exhibit theseculture. Different myths exhibit these
different functions.different functions.
 There are three basic types of myth—There are three basic types of myth—
they overlap, however, and are oftenthey overlap, however, and are often
not singular.not singular.

15. 1. Myth explains how things came into1. Myth explains how things came into
being and why and/or how the worldbeing and why and/or how the world
around us works; i.e. thunder andaround us works; i.e. thunder and
lightning is Zeus or Thor throwing thelightning is Zeus or Thor throwing the
bolts. This is Campbell’sbolts. This is Campbell’s
cosmological function.cosmological function.

16. 2. Historical allegory: Zeus and Hera’s2. Historical allegory: Zeus and Hera’s
marriage symbolizes the combiningmarriage symbolizes the combining
of two cultures. The ancients did notof two cultures. The ancients did not
write a historical account of thewrite a historical account of the
Pelasgians being conquered byPelasgians being conquered by
Aryan invaders, but their mythAryan invaders, but their myth
reflects the subjugation.reflects the subjugation.

17.  In the bookIn the book When They Severed EarthWhen They Severed Earth
from Sky: How the Human Mindfrom Sky: How the Human Mind
Shapes Myth,Shapes Myth, Barbara and PaulBarbara and Paul
Barber assert that most (if not all)Barber assert that most (if not all)
myths are allegorical representationsmyths are allegorical representations
of an actual event—we just have to siftof an actual event—we just have to sift
out the fantastical to get to theout the fantastical to get to the
historical.historical.

18. 3. Myth touches on themes of human3. Myth touches on themes of human
conditions that do not change. Weconditions that do not change. We
experience the same problems andexperience the same problems and
joys that our ancestors experienced.joys that our ancestors experienced.

19.  A myth such as that of Persephone’sA myth such as that of Persephone’s
abduction incorporates all three of theabduction incorporates all three of the
different kinds of myth.different kinds of myth.
 On a basic level, it explains theOn a basic level, it explains the
establishment of winter.establishment of winter.
 It is historical allegory, chronicling a shiftIt is historical allegory, chronicling a shift
from a matrifocal culture where women havefrom a matrifocal culture where women have
status, to a patrifocal culture where womenstatus, to a patrifocal culture where women
are property.are property.

20.  The myth also timelesslyThe myth also timelessly
demonstrates the power and sorrow ofdemonstrates the power and sorrow of
motherly love. Demeter cannotmotherly love. Demeter cannot
protect her daughter from the dangersprotect her daughter from the dangers
of the world, yet she never gives up inof the world, yet she never gives up in
her quest to save Persephone.her quest to save Persephone.

21. Other Enduring ThemesOther Enduring Themes
 Myth reflects human desires andMyth reflects human desires and
needs. These desires, like motherlyneeds. These desires, like motherly
love, do not change much. They do,love, do not change much. They do,
however, adapt to fit a culture or ahowever, adapt to fit a culture or a
time epoch.time epoch.

22. The Male MotherThe Male Mother
 Men have never been able to giveMen have never been able to give
birth, yet many myths deal with menbirth, yet many myths deal with men
bringing forth life.bringing forth life.
 Zeus is a male mother at least twice:Zeus is a male mother at least twice:
he births Athene from his head andhe births Athene from his head and
Dionysius from his thigh.Dionysius from his thigh.

23.  Prometheus, also from the Greeks,Prometheus, also from the Greeks,
made men (not women) from clay. Hemade men (not women) from clay. He
was a good father who suffered towas a good father who suffered to
benefit his offspring.benefit his offspring.
 Yahweh creates Adam, then causesYahweh creates Adam, then causes
Adam to “birth” Eve from his rib.Adam to “birth” Eve from his rib.

24.  In Norse myth, the frost giant YmirIn Norse myth, the frost giant Ymir
produces the first man and womanproduces the first man and woman
from his left armpit.from his left armpit.
 In modern times, science seeks toIn modern times, science seeks to
create life in a test tube, to create ancreate life in a test tube, to create an
artificial womb, and to eventually cloneartificial womb, and to eventually clone
people (a uterus is still needed forpeople (a uterus is still needed for
gestation—at this point!).gestation—at this point!).

25. The Search forThe Search for
ImmortalityImmortality
 Humans want to live forever—don’tHumans want to live forever—don’t
you? Interestingly, deities from earlyyou? Interestingly, deities from early
myth were as mortal as humans:myth were as mortal as humans:
Osiris, Inanna, and other gods die andOsiris, Inanna, and other gods die and
go to the underworld. There has longgo to the underworld. There has long
existed the belief in an underworld orexisted the belief in an underworld or
afterlife, but humans have sought toafterlife, but humans have sought to
live forever in their earthly form.live forever in their earthly form.

26.  In the first epic poem, Gilgamesh fromIn the first epic poem, Gilgamesh from
Sumeria seeks the secret forSumeria seeks the secret for
immortality when he talks to his friend,immortality when he talks to his friend,
Enkidu, through a hole in the groundEnkidu, through a hole in the ground
after Enkidu’s untimely death. Kur, theafter Enkidu’s untimely death. Kur, the
underworld, is a gray place where joyunderworld, is a gray place where joy
is not known.is not known.

27.  The quest for immortality in a humanThe quest for immortality in a human
body is superseded when the promisebody is superseded when the promise
of paradise becomes fairly available toof paradise becomes fairly available to
the common person.the common person.
 Instead of living forever on earth, theInstead of living forever on earth, the
desire becomes to live forever in adesire becomes to live forever in a
paradise such as heaven.paradise such as heaven.

28.  Science, often antagonistic orScience, often antagonistic or
diametrically opposed to religiousdiametrically opposed to religious
faith, still seeks to allow humans to livefaith, still seeks to allow humans to live
forever—or at least for a VERY longforever—or at least for a VERY long
time.time.
 Humans freeze their bodies or brainsHumans freeze their bodies or brains
in order to be revived in the futurein order to be revived in the future
when there is a “cure” for death.when there is a “cure” for death.

29.  Other people hope to download theirOther people hope to download their
personalities into a computer chip andpersonalities into a computer chip and
have in inserted into a cloned orhave in inserted into a cloned or
cyborg body.cyborg body.

30. ArchetypesArchetypes
 These collective desires of humanityThese collective desires of humanity
that been in existence for centuries—that been in existence for centuries—
along with visual images—both are thealong with visual images—both are the
“archetypes” of Karl Jung.“archetypes” of Karl Jung.

31.  Myth has evolved over the centuries.Myth has evolved over the centuries.
Modern myths such as Harry PotterModern myths such as Harry Potter
often incorporate aspects of ancientoften incorporate aspects of ancient
myths. They continue to give us amyths. They continue to give us a
sense of wonder and continue basicsense of wonder and continue basic
tales such as the Dying andtales such as the Dying and
Resurrected Deity.Resurrected Deity.

32. Personal MythPersonal Myth
 In addition to the myth of a culture, weIn addition to the myth of a culture, we
also internalize and personalize notalso internalize and personalize not
only cultural mythos, but we create ouronly cultural mythos, but we create our
own.own.
 Dreams are often the vehicles forDreams are often the vehicles for
personal myth—we mythologizepersonal myth—we mythologize
circumstances in our lives, as well.circumstances in our lives, as well.

33. And . . .And . . .
 In this class, we will examine differentIn this class, we will examine different
types of myths and their functions totypes of myths and their functions to
see if they remain the same in varioussee if they remain the same in various
cultures.cultures.

34. Works CitedWorks Cited
 Barber, Elizabeth Wayland and Paul T. Barber.Barber, Elizabeth Wayland and Paul T. Barber. When theyWhen they
Severed Earth from Sky: How the Human Mind Shapes MythSevered Earth from Sky: How the Human Mind Shapes Myth..
Princeton, NJ: 2004. Print.Princeton, NJ: 2004. Print.
 Bierlein, J.F.Bierlein, J.F. Parallel Myths.Parallel Myths. NY: Ballantine Books, 1194.NY: Ballantine Books, 1194.
Print.Print.
 Campbell, Joseph. The Power of Myth. NY: Doubleday, 1988.Campbell, Joseph. The Power of Myth. NY: Doubleday, 1988.
Print.Print.
 Powell, Barry B.Powell, Barry B. A Short Introduction to Classical MythA Short Introduction to Classical Myth. Upper. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2002. Print.Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2002. Print.