CREATE AN ORIGINAL MYTH
In an essay of three to five pages, create an original myth based on universal stories including one or more archetypical characters. Make sure your myth has a beginning, a middle and an end.
“Three to five pages” means three full pages, something on a fourth page, and no more than five full pages. Use MLA format as you did for the research paper.
UNIVERSAL STORIES
Standard plot lines that appear in the mythology of many cultures. They include, but are not limited to, the examples below. Choose one or more to create your original myth.
CREATION: Primal elements personify to create gods, land, sea, sky and the earth’s populations.
REBELLION: The personified primal elements create gods who rise up and overthrow them.
HEROIC ENDEAVOR: An impossible task, such as defeating a substantial number of enemies or crossing trackless lands/oceans/rivers.
QUEST: A journey with a goal. The characters must overcome obstacles to achieve the goal.
LOVE/DEVOTION: A god/goddess and/or a hero/heroine endure hardship to find unity and happiness.
APOCALYPSE: Circumstances and divine intervention cause existence to end.
UNIVERSAL ARCHETYPES
Standard character types that appear in many cultures, including but not limited to the examples below. Choose one or more:
MOTHER GODDESS: Creates gods, humans and/or the universe with her body or magic
HERO: A being who is stronger, smarter and braver who accomplishes great deeds, including defeating armies, monsters and demons.
MENTOR/GRANDFATHER/GRANDMOTHER: advises others, interprets dreams, sets tasks
ALLY: a companion who assists others in heroic endeavor
ENEMY: an opposing force almost as strong as the hero, often possessing special qualities the hero does not possess, like magic, or having monstrous qualities
TRICKSTER: changes events through deception. Often evil, he/she is tolerated because he/she is amusing, or provides an indispensable service.
GODDESS/PRIESTESS: Provides assistance, often with a love connection (mother/son) or a sexual component.
GHOST/PROPHET: Appears to offer advice or predict future events
SERPENT: Alternatively evil or beneficial, often representing these qualities:
1) Renewal, rebirth, healing and eternal life
2) Stealth and subtlety
3) Evil
4) Death
5) Sexual temptation, fertility and pregnancy
THE TOPIC I HAVE CHOSEN:
Now you just need to create the myth according to this:
I’m thinking about writing a myth that has a Heroic/Endeavor plot. I will have a Hero, who would be similar to Chi Li and an enemy who would be similar to the beast in the Chinese myth called Chi Li Slays The Serpent. Being the hero typically means one who is usually stronger, smarter and braver then the rest. The character who would be similar to Chi Li would have to endure a great amount of obstacles and make a life threatening choice that would involve he or she to go head to head with the enemy which will most likely result with the hero succeeding. What type of obstacles should I have the hero face?
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