Myth in the Modern World

Myth in the Modern World consists of myths, hero-tales, and fairy tales which represent a society’s basic cultural and oral values recorded in literary form. Students will examine the basic mythologies generated by diverse cultures (Greece, Rome, Scandinavia, Asia, American Indian, etc.) as well as the works of Joseph Campbell. Students will also explore the hero’s journey through films such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Lord of the Rings. Students will trace parallel elements to show the basic kinship between peoples in spite of superficial differences. Such study affords the students a better understanding and appreciation of different cultures and a familiarity with mythology’s vast and varied influence on our language, literature, and lifestyle.