Expert: Irulan Serena - 1/23/2008

Question

I am a sixth grade student in a gifted program in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  I have been doing an independent study project about Greek and Norse Mythology.  As part of my research requirements, and to find out more, I would like to do an interview. Could you answer the following questions for me?  I would appreciate it if you could email your response to my teacher.

1. How was Greek/Norse mythology created ?

2. If they were created to explain natural events, why didn't scientists at the time dismiss them as preposterous ?

3. How did they influence daily life ?

4. Where did the more extreme ideas come from (monsters, giants, etc.)?

5. Were they always used to explain things ?

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Keyshawn Johnson
C/o Mrs. Anne McChesney
Odyssey Program
Houston Elementary
1475 Skylyn Drive
Spartanburg, SC  29307
864-594-4448
amcchesney@spart7.org  

Answer
Subject: Student Interview: Greek and Norse Mythology

Question:


I am a sixth grade student in a gifted program in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  I have been doing an independent study project about Greek and Norse Mythology.  As part of my research requirements, and to find out more, I would like to do an interview. Could you answer the following questions for me?  I would appreciate it if you could email your response to my teacher.



ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS:

1 How was Greek/Norse mythology created ?  

They myths of ancient cultures were all created the same way …word of mouth tradition.  Norse Mythology (also Germanic, Nordic or Scandinavian Mythology) is the mythology of Scandinavian peoples. Like many ancient mythologies, the Norse myths were handed down verbally for many years. Most of our understanding of Norse myths comes from later recordings of the stories into written word.

2 If they were created to explain natural events, why didn't scientists at the time dismiss them as preposterous?

Myths had a many purposes, the main one was to explain what humans did not understand such as natural forces, how natural things originated, storms, animals,  flowers, seasons, etc.  AT the time there were few scientists but they did not understand the functioning of natural forces therefore they could not judge them as you call them ….‘preposterous’.

3 How did they influence daily life?   Myths influenced every facet of life then in the same way that they still influence us today.

Myths gave stability and permanence to a culture. They promoted  a shared set of perspectives, values,  history  and literature, in the stories themselves. Through these communal tales, they were connected to one another,  to their ancestors, to the natural world surrounding them, and to their society and the patterns of life established by their ancestors.        

All known cultures have had some form of mythology. Each and every one of them developed distinct mythological styles and their own system of gods and goddesses, and all of them taught more or less the same lessons.     
                
Myths of origins:  These explained how things came to be created….   The thunder, flowers, the seasons of the year, etc,  they explained the unexplainable, what humans did not and could not understand.

Explanatory Myths:  Myths give meaning to life.  Myths also satisfy our need to understand the natural world; These  the origins of the gods and also proper behavior toward the gods….  That is what rules and regulations to follow to honor and worship them

Heroic myths:  Many myths feature heroes, who perform amazing feats of daring, strength,
or cleverness.   These  myths presented guidelines for living …they tell about the activities and attitudes of deities, the moral tone implies society's expectations for our own behaviors and standards of daily living.  These myths taught several things … the importance of loyalty, honor, courage, wisdom …in short all the best qualities that one should posses to be a good citizen…children patterned themselves after heroes so through these myths children learned patterns of behavior.


4. Where did the more extreme ideas come from (monsters, giants, etc.)?

These ideas came from the creators of myths … and those who continued the oral tradition of telling these myths to their children and grandchildren.

5. Were they always used to explain things ?   See answer # 3


RE: Youar request ...... I would appreciate it if you could email your response to my teacher.


Sorry,  Cannot be done from this forum and I would have to use my personal e-mail address to do so, however I do not use my personal e-mail to send any information from this forum ...said information has to be acquired from these pages and forwarded to whomever requests them.


Iru