This course will focus on myths from Ancient Greece but will also include Norse myths and material from the Old Testament, Mesopotamia, and Celtic Britain. We will read some of the greatest stories ever told and discuss how to interpret the mythic descriptions of the relationship between immortals and mortals found in these stories of creation and conflict, madness and love, heroic quest and divine punishment. Some study of historical context will be involved; however, the emphasis will be on exploring the universal qualities that explain why certain myths have outlived their cultural roots to become a meaningful part of the heritage of Western Civilization. Students will explore whether certain elements must be present for a story to be accurately labeled as mythic. Myths and legends will be read in prose or verse translations. Short excerpts will also be read from some of the major modern European and American authors who have been inspired by them. Evidence of the persistence of mythic and heroic archetypes in the visual arts, music, movies, high fantasy literature and popular culture [including RPGs] will also be explored. This course fulfills a General Education Core Requirement:'Humanities/Fine Arts'.
Prerequisites
Any one of the following courses or by permission of the instructor or department chair: HUMA101N or HUMA107N or HIST101N or PSYC101N.