We haven't actually begun to read myth yet but have had a good look at several approaches to making meaning out of myth. There are of course many very literal levels upon which we could meditate when we read myths but that would be missing the point completely. Myth is like great art in that it is inspired by genius and reflects the perfection of some aspect of creation.
One only needs to look at the Romantic Movement in Literature to understand the incredible beauty and sublimity that underlies Nature’s visible forms. It was Wordsworth who was overcome by a field of daffodils in "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" and the moment is permanently imprinted in his soul. Walt Whitman teases the meaning of existence out of a few blades of grass in "Song of Myself". In "Ode on A Grecian Urn" Keats is so inspired by artwork on an ancient urn he writes "Beauty is truth, truth beauty-that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
All these artists experienced something akin to an awakening where they realized that behind the visible forms of existence lies the energy and real power of creation. The experience of this is hardly capable being put into words, but nevertheless these artists tried. Much like the metaphors these artists wield in their poems, Mythographers of the past also used metaphors to explain the ineffable, or that which cannot be put into words. In reading the material this semester it is important to remember that all the great myths are metaphors and all the gods and goddesses as well. These are all symbols which stand for some element of human nature or experience, some aspect of humanity which potentially lies within all of us.
The reading explained several ways to look at the myths we will read, but undoubtedly the Archetypal perspective of Jung with its focus on the "human" provides the most promise for those who really wish to understand the meaning of these metaphors. While we will not go deeply into Jungian psychology it will be important to understand Archetypes as opposed to other symbols and how we will read them. See page 48 in the text for a good definition of archetypes.
All of us have experience with these common human experiences and many of them have recognizable rituals associated with them. In Judaism a boy has a Bar mitzvah when he reaches the age of manhood. He is expected to learn certain things about what a man is in his culture and live up to those standards. This is an archetypal experience which aligns the boy with what it means to be a man and guides him through this transition in his life. All boys should have an experience akin to this but as we know our society doesn’t necessarily recognize the importance of this transition. Therefore it is important to pay attention to Myths as they are stories about bringing the spirit in line with the physical under the stresses and pressures of life and help us make these transitions and experiences in our lives easier.
Some of the myths we read will be associated with the natural cycles of the earth and seem to explain some aspect of nature. It is important not to think of these stories as primitive "science". Science as we think of it had not been invented when these stories were written and it's rules do not apply.
Overall it is important to keep your mind open as well as your feelings and intuition when you read. Do not dismiss or disregard anything you have read until you have given time to thinking about it.
Thank you for your thoughtful responses to the video. I will try and respond to your comments or any questions you might throughout the day, but I do have a full time job and I may not get to them right away.
For next time we will be looking at the Greek version of creation from Hesiod. I highly recommend you read the additional clarification as well. It will help you to put things in context much better than just the reading alone.
