Reference no: EM132454639
Purpose The purpose of this assignment is to compare and contrast the creation myth in two different cultures.
You must use only our course materials as sources for this assignment. Be sure you chose creation myths.
Select two creation myths--one from each of two different cultural groups (World Mythologyis arranged into seven different cultural groups). (You may not use the Greek and Roman myths together for this or any other assignment, since they are essentially the same. For this assignment, you also may not use the Genesis creation story.) Use myths only from our course materials that are complete stories, not parts of stories used as examples in the primary texts).
Make sure you choose myths that allow you to answer each part of the prompt. If you use any of the Big Myths, be certain that you can explore the background or other information in the course readings, so you can respond to the prompts thoroughly.
Avoid using a story you are very familiar with to avoid introducing elements that are not in the version of the story in our reading. (Most myths have several versions!)
Write a response to each of the prompts, not as an essay, and number each response to correspond to the prompt number.
Write in complete sentences and full paragraphs so that your points in each prompt stand on their own (that is, do not assume your reader has read the assignment directions), but do not write an essay. Double-space your response, and use a 12 point Arial or Times New Roman font.
01. The complete assignment should have a word count of 600 to 875 words (not including the title page, references page, and any prompts copied into the paper). Number your responses to match the numbers of the prompts in the instructions.
02. Which two creation myths have you chosen (give the title of the stories as they appear in the materials; enclose the title of each the story in quotation marks)?
03. Which world or worlds, such as sky world, earth, and underworld, are represented in the two myths you chose? What are the elements of these worlds (elements are the things the world is made of)?
04. Describe the creators of the worlds and creators of life as they are portrayed in the myth. Are the creators male or female, and of what significance is gender? (Hint: use the content of the myth and the primary concepts to analyze the importance of the gender. It is always important.) Describe what they created, including the steps or cycles of creation. Also, include descriptions of any destroyers or destruction that occurs in the creation myth.
05. Explain why there is a focus on cosmic occurrences or natural phenomena, such as celestial bodies, floods, rain, wind, and fire in the myths you chose.
06. Compare the creators, creations, the steps or cycle of creation, and the cosmic elements of the two myths. What are the similarities and differences?
07. Explain why cosmic or creation myths are important to a culture. Analyze the value they bring. How do they shape a culture's world view?
08. Format your in-text citations and references consistent with APA guidelines (10% of the overall grade). Every source used must be cited and referenced; if you have any questions about how to cite or reference any source ask.
09. Use spelling and grammar check.
Materials
- Big Myth
- World Mythology, "Osiris, Isis, and Horus"
- World Mythology, "The Creation of the Titans and the Gods"
- World Mythology, "Far East and the Pacific Islands"
- World Mythology, "The Creation, Death, and Rebirth of the Universe"
- Myth and Knowing, Ch. 2
- World Mythology, "The Creation of the Universe and Ife (Yoruba)"
- World Mythology, "The Creation (Maya)"