What is a myth Essay Example for Free

What is a story EssayIt is a conventional floor based on ancient beliefs of disparate communities and having supernatural explanations of facts or natural pheno custodya. The ro servicemanceical story is related to religious beliefs, for that reason, has a ritual character, ie presents invariable elements and is distinguished by its durability. The purpose of apologue is non to entertain, as with the story, but to excuse the meaning of demeanor. So there be certain(prenominal) subjects such(prenominal) as the gunstock of man and the universe, which are treated in the apologues of all cultures. The myth responds to a incident way of seeing the world and to explain the phenomena that exist in it.Un comparable science, which gives rational and logical explanations to these phenomena, the myth gives explanations mgicas and mostwhat angry. For this reason, events occur absurd myths, magic solutions exist and appear fabulous characters. The fact that different communit ies have similar concerns led to the creation of myths about the same phenomena in different cultures. In the myth of Phaeton these aspects are reflected in the following manner Phenomenon The base of deserts and of the black race. Made fantastic Phaeton driving the chariot of the sun to prove its divine origin. Universality The phenomenon, how it is explained and the characters are repeated with most different characteristics in myths of other communities. Classification of myths beind coded contents Cosmogenic explain the creation of the world. Theogonic explain the origin of the gods. Antropognicos explain the appearance of man Etiological explain governmental, religious and fond. Morales Explain ethical principles opposites like proper and evil, angels and demons.Features According to Mircea Eliade, myth is a sacred story that chronicles an event that happened during primeval time, in which the world had not yet stood. The events of the periodically recurring nature are explained as a result of the events narrated in the myth (for example, in Greek mythology the cycle of seasons is explained from the abduction of Persephone). However, not all myths refer to a time first overly do-nothing address occurring after the origin, but distinguished by their importance and the changes they brought.In the view of Claude Levi-Strauss, structuralist anthropologist, all(prenominal) myth has trio characteristics This is an existential question concerning the creation of the earth, death, induce and the like. consists of irreconcilable opposites creation vs destruction, life against death, gods against men or good vs. evil. provides the reconciliation of these poles in order to avert our anguish. For its part, the anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski argued that no important aspect of life that is alien to the myth. Therefore, there are religious myths (such as the birth of the gods), politicians (such as the design of Rome) or on particular issues (why c orn became the main food of a people, as with the pre-Hispanic peoples of Mexico ). For Malinowski fundamental myths are narratives, while responding to the prefatory questions of human existence reason to exist, because of what surrounds it, among otras.Malinowski as well clarified that the myth of the order of beliefs and if it is an explanation, not a rational explanation, but cultural.Function of MythFunctions are multiple myths. However, in general, can accept three essential functions explanatory and pragmatic meaning. The explanatory function refers to the myths explain, justify or develop the origin, purpose and because of some aspect of social or individual, for example, the Greek myth that tells how the world originated from Chaos or Genesis that says the birth of the woman from the rib of a man. The pragmatic function of myth implies that myths are the basis of certain social structures and actions as well, a myth can make a genealogical line and determine who can gov ern or not. With this feature, specify and justify myths why a situation is in a certain way and not another. The consumption of meaning refers to that myths are not just stories that provide explanations or governmental justifications also provide a comfort, calm life goal or individuals, so it is with myths that speak of death, wretched or victory therefore, the myths are stories away from the person, but function as a handle existential, a motive, according to the American psychoanalyst, Rollo May. The three functions are usually combined steadily.Types of MythsWe distinguish several kinds of myths cosmogonic myths cause to explain the creation of the world. Are the most universally widespread and there is a greater amount. Often, lies the origin of the earth in a primordial ocean. Sometimes, a race of giants, like the Titans, plays a crucial role in this creation, in this case, such giants, which are usually demigods, are the first people on earth. Myths theogonic tell the origin of the gods. For example, Athena comes armed from the head of Zeus. anthropogenic Myths narrating the appearance of human beings, who can be stoold from whatsoever material, alive (a plant, an animal) or inert (dust, mud, clay, etc..). The gods taught to live on earth. Usually linked to the cosmogonic myths. Myths etiological explain the origin of beings, things, techniques and institutions. moral Myths explain the existence of good and evil. Foundational Myths tell how the cities were founded by the will of the gods. An example is the founding of Rome by two twins, Romulus and Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf. Myths eschatological announce the future, the contain of the world. They until now have wide audience. These myths include two major classes, depending on the element that causes the destruction of the world peeing or fire. They are practically linked to astrology. The imminent end is announced by a high frequency of eclipses, earthquakes, and all sort s of natural disasters that terrorize humans. The classic example is the Apocalypse, considered as such by Bertrand Russell.1 variant literal, allegorical and symbolicWhile myths appear to have been originally proposed as literally true stories, the dialectical between the worlds mythical explanation and philosophical and scientific development has favored non-literal readings of myth, according to which they should not be subject to belief, but redeation. Thus the allegorical reading of myths, born in Greece in the Hellenistic period, proposes to interpret the gods as personifications of natural elements. This commitment finds its continuation in later theories, such as widespread in the nineteenth century by Max Mller, whereby myths stories stem from misunderstood about the sun, which has been personified, becoming an anthropomorphous (the hero or sun god).Reading symbolic believes the myth contains accurate content, but not on what is apparently, but on the mental contents of its creators and users. Thus, the myth about a god instituted the week to create the world in seven days contains truthful about how society divided the time it was created and which divisions between the inanimate and the animate, the different types of animals and man etc.. Myths also contain useful guidelines for behavior role models or reduce all known stories with which to relate individual experiences. Modern studies on the myth fall into three elementary positions the functionalist, developed by the anthropologist Malinowski examines what myths are used in everyday life (behavior reinforcement, argument from authority, etc.). structuralist, initiated by Levi-Strauss, examines the expression of myths locating contrary or complementary elements that appear in it and how they are related the symbolism, which has classical references in Jung, Bachelard and Gilbert Durand, believes that the key element of the myth is a symbol, a tangible item but practiced of resonance or si gnificance that refers to archetypal contents of the human psyche. (An example is the Child archetype Elder, opposed figure who appears as a character in appearance or behavior longtime child-like pigeon hawk or a baby or child who is capable of speaking and endowed with vast knowledge, typical of an old-the baby Jesus lecturing to doctors.) Difference between myth and other storiesOften myth is often confused with other types of stories as tales, fables and legends. However, are not equal. There are several differences between myth and folk tale while the stories are presented as fictions, myths are presented as true stories. Function also varies the myth is essentially etiological (clear how they came to a certain situation, why the sea is salty or man is mortal, for example), while the values transmitted folktale (better skill than strength, good always has its reward, the impostor is always open, etc..).In addition, the plot of the stories is usually simple, while myths are pa rt of a complex, in which each story is connected with the other by recurrent characters, places, etc.. (So, for example, the story of Jason is related to myths about Heracles, as this is one of the Argonauts). The fables myths differ from the characters (those fables are animals human conduct the myths, gods, heroes and monsters) and by function (fables contain a moral message, which usually appears at the end collected of them as moral, while myths are etiological).As for the legends, are presented, as well as myths, like true stories and often have a causal role (used, for example, to explain how a lineage came to power, which underpins its political legitimacy), but Unlike myths, happening in real time, historic places recognized by the listener or reader, and often with real actors (cf. the legends of Charlemagne or El Cid). The same pattern may appear in a myth, a story or legend, depending on how you present the story (true or fictional) and what your role (etiological, educ ational, entertainment ). Thus, remark how the plot of the Oedipus myth reappears in the medieval legend of Judas Iscariot makes a murderer of his father who marries without knowing his mother.