Euhemerus’ TheoryEuhemerus’ Theory

Historical FactsHistorical Facts

Muller’s TheoryMuller’s Theory

•Represents Nature DivinitiesRepresents Nature Divinities

•Heroes are symbolic for the sun Heroes are symbolic for the sun in one of its phases.in one of its phases.

Tylor’s TheoryTylor’s Theory

•Man’s effort to account for Man’s effort to account for the unexplainable the unexplainable occurrences in dreams.occurrences in dreams.

•animals had soulsanimals had souls

Malinowski’s TheoryMalinowski’s Theory

•Disagreed with TylorDisagreed with Tylor

•Emphasized the psychological Emphasized the psychological conditions that lead man to conditions that lead man to create myths.create myths.

Frazer’s TheoryFrazer’s Theory

•Cycle of NatureCycle of Nature– BirthBirth

– GrowthGrowth– DecayDecay– DeathDeath– RebirthRebirth

Myth and SocietyMyth and Society

•Mitra & VarunaMitra & Varuna IndraIndra

Emile Durkheim 1800’sEmile Durkheim 1800’sSociologistSociologist•Myth plays a role in understanding Myth plays a role in understanding

society as a whole.society as a whole.

•Believed that every society Believed that every society establishes certain social institutions establishes certain social institutions and values, which are reflected in and values, which are reflected in the society's religion.the society's religion.

•Collective Representations of ValuesCollective Representations of Values

Georges Dumezil,Georges Dumezil, Modern French scholar Modern French scholar• Influenced by DurkheimInfluenced by Durkheim

•Studied Indo-European MythStudied Indo-European Myth

• Indo-European Divinities collective Indo-European Divinities collective representations of the caste (class) representations of the caste (class) systemsystem

•Mitra/Varuna represent Brahman or Mitra/Varuna represent Brahman or priest caste; the highest caste in priest caste; the highest caste in Hindu societyHindu society..

Myth and the IndividualMyth and the IndividualCarl Jung psychoanalyst Carl Jung psychoanalyst 1900’s1900’s•Myths reflect attitudes and behavior Myths reflect attitudes and behavior

of individuals (controversial).of individuals (controversial).

•Collective unconscious formed by Collective unconscious formed by personal experiences in the world as personal experiences in the world as filtered through the senses.filtered through the senses.

• Inherited and shared by all members Inherited and shared by all members of his race. (Depression)of his race. (Depression)

Carl Jung Archetypes Carl Jung Archetypes include Myth, Fairy/Folk include Myth, Fairy/Folk Tales, ArtTales, Art•Home of the gods, underworldsHome of the gods, underworlds

•Heroes: battle between Heroes: battle between generations for control of a generations for control of a thronethrone

•Themes: love, revenge, greed, Themes: love, revenge, greed, familyfamily

Diversity of TheoriesDiversity of Theories

• Anthropological – origins, customs Anthropological – origins, customs

• Allegorical – symbolic narrativeAllegorical – symbolic narrative

• Philological – literary texts, written recordsPhilological – literary texts, written records

• Solaristic – Operating EnvironmentSolaristic – Operating Environment

• Rationalistic Reason Rationalistic Reason Philosophy /Theology.Philosophy /Theology.

• Psychoanalytical - theories concerning the Psychoanalytical - theories concerning the relation of conscious and unconscious relation of conscious and unconscious

CARL GUSTAV JUNGCARL GUSTAV JUNG1875 - 19611875 - 1961

•No science will ever replace No science will ever replace myth, and a myth cannot be myth, and a myth cannot be made out of any science. For it made out of any science. For it is not that “God” is a myth, but is not that “God” is a myth, but that myth is the revelation of a that myth is the revelation of a divine life in man. It is not we divine life in man. It is not we who invent myth, rather it who invent myth, rather it speaks to us as a word of God.speaks to us as a word of God.

CARL GUSTAV JUNGCARL GUSTAV JUNG1875 - 19611875 - 1961

•Myths go back to the primitive Myths go back to the primitive storyteller and his dreams, to storyteller and his dreams, to men moved by the stirring of men moved by the stirring of their fantasies. These people their fantasies. These people were not very different from were not very different from those whom later generations those whom later generations called poets or philosophers.called poets or philosophers.

Diversity of Theories - Diversity of Theories - InfluencesInfluences

Geography – Desert or Ice Geography – Desert or Ice

Climate – Cold or AridClimate – Cold or Arid

Government – Female vs. Government – Female vs. Male creatorMale creator

Societal AspectsSocietal Aspects