Summary:
Explores classic mythology and discusses its importance. Describes why the study of mythology helps to explain the human existence.
Mythology, according to H. Broch, who wrote the introduction to the Iliad, .".. is the archetype of every phenomenal cognition of which the human mind is capable. Never could the human mind or its language have conceived the Logos, had not the conception been already formed in myth." Although that quote is stated in terms a little higher than what is our freshman class, I believe it really has a good grasp of what mythology is. Mythology is the epitome of stories, it is the classic, the prime example in which everyone looks to to base their stories. Our minds could not have imagined the great dreams that we dream if it were not for the brilliance of mythology. Well, if anything, it deserves some credit.
Mythology is not just any story, it is the story. It is different from all the rest because of the characters. You learn so much about them and feel their pain and experience their happiness and you can not help but be sucked in. For example, the gods and goddesses, which although they were above humans and powerful, they were still modeled and flawed just as the humans they ruled over. It is different because of the people. The characters were not just farmers or your every day citizens; they could also run at the speed of light or could lift ten times their weight. Their abilities did not define them, they just enhanced or guided the person they always were. The stories were told to the extreme, nothing could just be special; it had to extravagant and out of this world.
The character could not just be angry and pout and then just get over it. They had to slay 1000 men with a bone or conquer a great quest to be satisfied. They also believed. More than we do now. They believed and trusted people; they saw a bird in the sky and knew that they would be victorious. No doubt of fear about it. Lastly, what makes mythology so great are the character's thought process. In the story of Troy, when Helen is stolen, Menelaus' first reaction is to gather an army and start a WAR over her. Realistically, that is just not logical or practical.
But that is what mythology is to me personally. On a more studious level, mythology is what is used to explain the origin of life, religious beliefs and people's histories. It also views the forces of nature as some kind of supernatural occurrence. Not only is mythology used to explain, it also teaches. It teaches humans the natural and proper behavior. And lastly, it tells us the deeds of traditional superheroes. Because everyone wishes for someone to save them and mythology helps us escape from the pains and trials of now and get lost in the goodness or courage of people (traits that we wished that we possessed) for a brief period of time. Though the study of mythology can last a semester or a lifetime, it can always be thought of as the grand model for some of the most colorful stories ever told.
This is the complete article, containing 521 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
