Introduction to World Mythology

Comparative Literature Department

Winter 2011 195:150:01
9:00am 12:00pm 12/24, 12/27-12/30, 1/3-1/7, 1/10-1/14
Liesl Owens
lowens@rci.rutgers.edu
732.932.0706
Office hours: Mon & Tues. 12:15 at Au Bon Pain and by appointment
Course Description:
The aim of this course is to introduce students to a wide range of mythological and fictional texts
(film, short story, poetry, novel) inspired by mythology and to theories on mythology from
around the world. The study of myth explores how groups of people from different times and
places experience and explain the nature of reality, set values, and determine what is known and
how it is known. Students will examine how myths function culturally, historically, aesthetically,
psychologically, philosophically, and politically. Students will also be introduced to basic
reading techniques and interpretative methods which take into account the complexities of
studying different cultures, reading texts translated from different languages, and working with
artifacts from far distant eras. Students will further develop analytical and critical thinking skills,
and will improve their writing skills.
Texts: available at Rutgers University Bookstore, Albany St., New Brunswick.
Segal A Very Short Introduction to Myth. (Oxford U P ISBN-10: 0192803476)
Ovid Metamorphosis. Tr. Knox. (W. W. Norton & Company ISBN-10: 039332642X)
Sophocles Oedipus the King. Tr. Greene et al. (U Of Chicago Press. ISBN-10:
0226768686)
Gilgamesh - Tr. Mitchell. (Free Press ISBN-10: 0743261690)
Ramayana - Tr. Narayan. (Penguin Classics ISBN-10: 0143039679)
Readings posted on Sakai
Films:
Apocalypse Now , Contact , Spirited Away, and We are not your Monkeys
(It is also helpful if you have seen The Matrix (just the 1st movie), Fight Club, Star Wars
IV, V, and VI, Wizard of Oz, as these regularly come up in discussion).
Grading
Two 5 page analytical papers 40%
Participation, assignments, and presentations 30%
3 Quizzes 30%

Attendance and Participation:

Attendance is taken daily. You are responsible for signing in everyday. You are allowed 3
absences for any reason. More than 3 absences will lower your final grade by one half letter
grade for each class missed. No absence is excused no matter what the reason.
Participation is graded daily based on the frequency of participation, the quality of participation,
arriving late or leaving early, etc....
Analytical papers
Two 5 page analytical or critical papers based on a close reading of a text.
These are formal papers in which you are expected to develop a thesis and give textual support
for your argument.
No outside research is required.
I will suggest paper topics in class.
Use the MLA style to format your paper.
You are graded on having a thesis, content, organization, style, format, and grammar.
Papers are to be submitted to me in both hard copy (a printed paper) and to Turnitin.com.
Late papers will drop one half letter grade for each day late.
No paper will be accepted more than two class days late.
Depending on time, I will review rough drafts (rough drafts are optional).
There are no re-writes of final paper submissions.
Quizzes :
One essay question
Assignments:
On occasion, I will assign a brief written assignment. I will always announce ahead of time if I
will be collecting the assignments.
Presentations:
1. A 3-5 min. presentation on a poem or work of art related to mythology.
2. A 3-5 min presentation that introduces the topic and thesis of your final paper.
Plagiarism:
Papers are to be handed in to me in a hard copy (a printed paper) and to Turnitin.com. Anyone
caught plagiarizing will be subject to the procedure outlined in the catalogue. Remember,
plagiarism (levels 1, 2, and 3) is more than the exact replication of someone elses words but also
using/stealing someone elses ideas and presenting them as if they were your own ideas, insights,
or analysis. Changing words around or using synonyms is not enough to avoid plagiarism. If you
have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism please see me.

Date
12/24

12/27

Topic

Reading Assignment

Introduction
What is
Mythology?
Ways of reading
myths?

On Sakai:
Thury What is Myth?

Mythic cycles:
Creation Myths
Apocalyptic Myths
Destruction Myths

On Sakai:
Greek Creation & Flood Stories
Biblical Creation & Flood Stories
Borges - The Circular Ruins (Arg)

Assignment

From Segals Intro to Myth Introduction: Theories of Myth p. 1-10

*From Segal: Intro to Myth - Myth and

Science p. 11-35
*From Ovids Metamorphosis- Creation
Story & Flood Story
12/28

12/29

Myth and Visual

Art
Foundational
Myths

On Sakai:

Myth and Power

Myth & point of
view

On Sakai:
Borges - Asturion (Argentina)

*Gassires Lute (Soninke - Africa)

*From Segal: Intro to Myth - Myth and
Philosophy p. 36-45
*From Ovids Metamorphosis: Apollo &
Daphne; Phaethon; Cadmus founds
Thebes

*From Segal - Intro to Myth - Myth and

Religion p. 46-60.
*From Ovids Metamorphosis: Actaeon
and Diana; Arachne; Tereus, Procne,
and Philomena; Minos and Ariadne

Bring in art
or poetry
inspired by
Greek
mythology

Quiz #1

Date

Topic

12/30

Myth and Ritual

Myth, Politics, and
Hegemony

Reading Assignment

Assignment

On Sakai:
* The Homeric Hymn to Demeter
* Jackson - The Lottery (USA)
* From Segals Intro to Myth - Myth and
Ritual p. 61-78
* From Ovids Metamorphosis The Rape of Proserpina

M.1/3

Revelation Myths
Heroes
Hero Quest

On Sakai:
Indra and the Ants (India)
Excerpt from The Baghavadgita (India)
Excerpt from The Book of Revelations
Excerpt from Joseph Campbells
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
From Segal - Intro to Myth - Myth and
Literature p. 79-90

T.1/4

W. 1/5

Heroes
Hero Quest

Film: Contact (USA)

Hero Quest

On Sakai:
Fuentes - Aura (Mexico)

From Segals Intro to Myth - Myth and

psychology p. 91-112

The Epic of Gilgamesh (Babylon)

Th.1/6

F. 1/7

Chaosmos
Anti-Heroes

Film: Apocalypse Now (USA)

Myth &
Psychology

Sophocles - Oedipus the King

*From Segal - Intro to myth - Myth and

Structure p. 113-125.

1st paper
due

Date

Topic

Reading Assignment

1/10

Myth & Ideology

Ramayana (India)

T.1/11

Myth, Ideology
and Resistance

Film: We are not your Monkeys (India)

Assignment
Quiz #2

From Segal - Intro to Myth - Myth and

society p. 126-136
W.1/1
2

Myth and Fairy

tales
Myth and Children

Film: Spirited Away (Japan)

Th.1/1
3

Myth and
Folktale/Legend

On Sakai:
*The Legend of Mulan (China)
*Kingston - Woman Warrior - Chapter 1
(Chinese American)

F.1/14

What is Myth?

Review

From Segal - Intro to Myth - Conclusion:

The future of the study of myth p. 137

Quiz #3
Present final
paper topics