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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. Who was the sun god of Heliopolis?

2. What do the various versions of the Egyptian creation myth Leeming cites revolve around?

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

4. Which topic does not fall under cosmology?

5. How does Leeming define cosmic myth?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Leeming describe the Norse pantheon?

2. Describe the first creation myth to originate in Egypt.

3. Describe the Hebrew creation myth.

4. How does Leeming describe the Hebrew pantheon?

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

6. What psychological metaphor does Leeming see at the heart of creation myths?

7. What does Leeming say the Supreme Being represents in myths?

8. Why does Leeming say that cosmogonies are predominantly feminine?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Read another book about mythology--even something short, like Karen Armstrong's "A Short History of Myth"--and compare and contrast Leeming's approach to myth to another author's. What are Leeming's main preoccupations, and what are his methods? What is his style for expressing them? What does he tend to include? What does he omit? How can you characterize Leeming's intellectual personality?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Describe a myth that is alive and being told today, in your culture. What are its metaphorical meanings? What mystery does the myth put you in the presence of? How does it balance abstract and physical or imaginative and real attributes?

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