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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Leeming say was the primary difference between the Greek pantheon and the Roman pantheon?

2. For what does Leeming say the struggle among gods in the Egyptian pantheon is a metaphor?

3. In Leeming's account, how did the Hopi create their creation myth?

4. What creation myth does Leeming say modern people favor?

5. What does Leeming say myths describe with regard to individuals relating to the Supreme Being?

Short Essay Questions

1. When does Leeming say the Egyptian creation myths were repeated?

2. Where does Leeming say the figures of Supreme Beings came from in myths?

3. What relationship does Leeming describe between politics and religion in the myths of the Egyptian pantheon?

4. How does Leeming describe the Hebrew pantheon?

5. Describe the Mesopotamian creation myth.

6. What contribution does Leeming say Hesiod made to Greek creation myths?

7. What does Leeming say is the creation myth for modern people?

8. Describe the Christian creation myth.

9. Describe the stages through which the Greek pantheon developed, in Leeming's account.

10. How does Leeming say the figure of the trickster?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Leeming describes myths as concerning gods and goddesses, but they are also tales that transcend religion, and have an essential human, psychological truth, which is applicable beyond the particular religion that told the myth originally. In this light, discuss the religious nature of myth--do myths apply equally to atheists and believers?

Essay Topic 2

Use two different metaphorical frameworks to analyze one myth. For instance, you could describe the myth as a metaphor for political, psychological, spiritual, linguistic, social, or historical realities. Which framework is "better" for analysis in this case? What makes one framework better than another? How can you say when a certain interpretation has gone too far?

Essay Topic 3

Leeming discusses the myths of a number of major cultures: Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Hebraic, Christian, Norse, and Native American. Based on what Leeming describes of their myths--their creation, hero, afterlife and apocalypse myths, as well as their god and goddesses, sacred places and objects and signs and symbols--how would you characterize the difference between two cultures?

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