Characteristics+of+Myths

How do we recognize a myth? Usually, there are several of the following characteristics:

Communication between divinity and humanity

Beasts Ex. The Magic Stallion. In the myth, the stranger had a magic stallion that helped him build the wall. Loki came up with the plan to transform into the mare to stop the production of the Asgard Wall. Thor heard the stranger yelling and killed him. The stallion would be considered a beast. AR

Includes communication between gods and godesses Example- Pandora's Box an ancient Greek myth Have you seen a god or godess? Pandora, who Zeus makes out of clay, got that chance. He made her, and she was not a godess. This would explain why this myth has communications between gods, godesses and humans. -VS

Explains the way the world is Example- Pandora's Box. In the myth, Pandora is given a box. She is told not to open it. When curiosity gets the best of her and she opens the box, all the evils in the world that we know flooded out. -VS Nicely stated.

Includes gods and godesses with exeptional powers Example- Pandora's Box. Zeus creates Pandora out of clay. He has an exceptional power. When Zeus calls a meeting of the gods they each give something to Pandora such as curiosity, eternal beauty, music and everlasting love. Only gods could do that. -VS Good work, Victoria!

When the gods make Pandora out of clay, they give her many gifts. Hera gives her curiosity, then the gods give her a box not to open. They send Pandora down to Earth and, curiosity gets the best of her. She opens the box. As she opens the box, the evils we know today rushed out into the world. -GG

Includes gods and goddesses with exceptional powers Ex.- Pandora's Box. Epimetheus had the power to create humans to inhabit Earth. His brother also had the power to create humans, but he was punished by Zeus because he gave the humans a fire from Olympus.Only gods could create humans.-AR Nice example, Alyssa!

__**King Midas**__
This is an origin myth to explain why the sand at the Gediz Nehri river are gold. King Midas was wealthy to begin with but he became more greedy as time passed.king midas did not want the gift anymore because he turned his daughter to gold. The golden touch was transfered to the river by king midas washing his hands to realse the gift thus making the sand golden.-LH Luke, I appreciate your adding the info about the Gediz. Please DO check spelling and caps, and please do NOT erase comments I have added for others; thanks!! [You may erase my comments to you once you have seen them.] ~Ms.KB

The Golden Apples
 Characteristics of The Golden Apples. In the myth "The Golden Apples" Loki tricks Thiazi while he is out to sea, by using a spell to save Idun. (Thiazi took Idun prisoner) Loki turns Idun into a **__ nut __** and brings her back to the gods, along with the golden apple, which shows that the gods have exceptional powers. The Golden apples includes explainations of nature, such as when Loki goes to Idun and talks Idun into comparing her apples with his. The Golden Apples has examples of the way the world is, it tells that the gods are all happy and minding their own business, but when they become old they eat one of Idun's golden apples which grants them to be young again. -MS

__**Loki's Children**__

This myth in my opinion dose not have very much classifications although it does have some. "Loki's Children" is a prestige myth because it is about how Loki's children were powerful and the myth was centered around them (Especially his child Fenrir, who was a wolf). this myth also has the classifications of being a eschatological myth because it hints about who is going tofight who and whos going to live and die in the last battle of the nine worlds.-JA

__**Characteristics of the Myth**__

Loki's children inckudes the characteristic of gods and godesses with exceptional powers because the gods make very strong chains to retain Fenrir. Another of this myth is it includes beasts, the beasts being Loki's children, who are Fenrir, Hel, and the Midgard Serpent. This also includes communication between elves and gods. -JA


 * __Why Mosquitoes Buzz in Peoples Ears … A West African tale__ **

This story shows several characteristics of a myth. This story explains nature, as the mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears, asking if everyone is still angry with them. Many beasts are included in this story, such as the owl, the python, the iguana, and King Lion. There is a moral lesson: a small comment intended as a joke may have unintended tragic consequences. This is one of many enjoyable animal legends of Africa.

__ Twilight of the gods __
This story is about revenge for Loki. It is an myth that predics what the end of the world would be like. It is also a creation myth because it tells of a new world setting a foot after the fight between Loki and Odin. There is also a connection from this myth to the bible Adam and Eve are like life and eager-for-life. In conclusion this myth reminds me of a saying "before going out for revenge you better dig two graves".


 * __The Fairest Feet__**

The Fairest Feet has a couple of charecteristics of a myth. It includes gods and/or godesses with exceptional powers because in one part it says, "Then he hurled the eyes of the giant into the sky and they became two glittering stars." It also tries to explain the world is because in another part it says,"To some in the Northland, this explains why wintry storms raged for nine months of the year, and balmy, gentle weather prevailed for only three."-GG