In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World Papers & Assignment Topics

Essay Topics/Writing Assignments

These 20 essay questions can be used as essay questions on a test, or as stand-alone essay topics for a take-home or in-class writing assignment. Students should have a full understanding of the text in order to answer these questions. They ask for a thorough analysis of the text.

1. Almost all of the creators in the myths presented are male. Why do so many stories feature men? What does this tell the reader about the cultures the stories come from?

2. Many of the stories have animals as main characters. Why is there a common theme about animals? Why might these cultures value animals so highly?

3. Many of the stories feature sets of twins. Might twins be considered special or magical in certain cultures? Why or why not? Are the twins presented in the stories good? Evil? Both? Neither?

4. Often the...
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