"The myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths."
The traditional stories usually involving supernatural beings or events that explain the origins of the world and the values and beliefs of a culture.
Mythology: The study of myths and their interpretation, including their origins, history, and cultural significance.
Folklore: Traditional stories and customs of a particular culture or community, often including myths.
Symbolism: The use of symbols to convey meaning in myths and other forms of cultural expression.
Religion: The study of belief systems, including myths, rituals, and other practices that shape cultural and social life.
Ritual: A set of actions or words performed in a prescribed manner in order to achieve a specific goal or convey a particular meaning.
Archetypes: Universal patterns of behavior and thought that appear in myths, dreams, and other forms of cultural expression.
Hero's Journey: A common mythic pattern in which a hero goes through a series of trials and tribulations in order to achieve a goal or transformation.
Creation myths: Stories that explain the origins of the universe, life, and human existence.
Mythical beings: Creatures and figures that appear in myths, such as gods, goddesses, monsters, and heroes.
Mythical places: Locations that appear in myths, such as the underworld or otherworldly realms.
Mythical events: Significant events that are mythologized, such as floods, battles, and journeys.
Mythical themes: Larger ideas and lessons that are conveyed through myths, such as the struggle between good and evil, the search for identity, and the human quest for meaning.
Comparative mythology: The study of similarities and differences between myths from different cultures and traditions.
Mythopoeia: The creation of myths and mythical worlds through artistic expression, such as literature, film, and visual arts.
Creation myths: These are stories that explain the origins of the world and the people in it. They often involve supernatural or divine intervention.
Hero myths: These are stories that feature a hero or protagonist who successfully overcomes obstacles to achieve a goal or defeat an enemy.
Trickster myths: These are stories that feature a trickster character who uses cleverness or deception to achieve their goals or undermine others.
Origin myths: These are stories that explain the origin or meaning of particular aspects of life, such as the origin of death or the origins of certain societal customs and traditions.
Apocalypse myths: These are stories that describe an end-of-the-world scenario, often involving a judgment day or a cataclysmic event.
Afterlife myths: These are stories that describe what happens to individuals after they die, often involving concepts such as heaven and hell.
Nature myths: These are stories that explain natural phenomena, such as the movements of the sun and moon or the changing of the seasons.
Legend myths: These are stories that are based on historical or semi-historical events, often featuring exaggerated or embellished details.
Ritual myths: These are stories that are closely tied to specific rituals or religious practices, often involving symbolic representations of spiritual forces or events.
Immortality myths: These are stories that involve gaining or achieving immortality, often through supernatural or magical means.
Moral myths: These are stories that impart moral lessons or messages, often featuring characters who must make difficult ethical choices or face challenging moral dilemmas.
Fertility myths: These are stories that celebrate or explain concepts related to reproduction, often involving gods or goddesses associated with fertility and childbirth.
Cosmic myths: These are stories that address large-scale or abstract concepts, such as the creation of the universe or the nature of existence itself.
Ancestor myths: These are stories that honor or venerate ancestors, often featuring supernatural or divine elements that elevate their stature or importance.
Allegorical myths: These are stories that use symbolic or metaphorical language to communicate complex philosophical or spiritual concepts.
"Myths play a fundamental role in society..."
"Myths are often endorsed by secular and religious authorities..."
"Myths are closely linked to religion or spirituality."
"Many societies group their myths, legends, and history together..."
"Myths are sometimes distinguished from legends in that myths deal with gods..."
"The main characters in myths are usually non-humans, such as gods, demigods, and other supernatural figures."
"Others include humans, animals, or combinations in their classification of myth."
"Stories of everyday humans, although often of leaders of some type, are usually contained in legends, as opposed to myths."
"Myths are set in a world of the remote past, very different from that of the present."
"Creation myths take place in a primordial age when the world had not achieved its later form."
"Other myths explain how a society's customs, institutions, and taboos were established and sanctified."
"There is a complex relationship between the recital of myths and the enactment of rituals."
"Myths... usually have no historical basis..."
"Foundational tales or origin myths play a fundamental role in a society..."
"The main characters in myths are usually non-humans..."
"Myths are often endorsed by secular and religious authorities..."
"Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society..."
"Many societies group their myths, legends, and history together, considering myths and legends to be true accounts of their remote past."
"Myths are set in a world of the remote past, very different from that of the present."