Mythology Bookreport Essay, Research Paper
February 18, 1997
Dear Rebecca,
I am writing to you today to tell you about a few wonderful myths that I have read. I feel that they would interest you as much as they did me. I will give you a brief summary on each so that they will be a little more familiar to you if you decide to read them at some time in the future.
The first story I read was the tale of Hermes. Born on Mount Cyllene to his mother Maia, Hermes was an astonishing child. His growth was equally astonishing for he grew at a rapid rate. Deciding he wanted an adventure, Hermes set out one day and stole a herd of cows from Apollo, the sun god.
When Apollo discovered the missing herd, he set out to find them but to no avail. Hearing of a reward offered by Apollo for the recovery of the herd, Silenus and his satyrs set out as well. Traveling far and wide their journeys brought them to a small cave, which echoed with the beautiful muffled sounds of a melody to which they were drawn. When finding out the music was produced by an instrument made of cow gut and tortoise shell, it was then understood that young Hermes had taken the herd from Apollo. Formal charges were brought to Mt. Olympus. Apollo, while going to get his remaining cows discovered Hermes’ musical invention. Intrigued by this astonishing invention he offered his whole flock for the musical instrument. Hermes agreed, after which he invented a shepherd’s pipe, which also awed Apollo. He offered Hermes his golden staff in exchange for the pipe but to no avail. In addition to the golden staff Hermes wanted the knowledge of augury. He felt it was a useful art.
Hermes returned to Mt. Olympus to tell his father, Zeus, of all goings on. Zeus was very amused. Hermes suggested to Zeus that he be made into a herald. Zeus complied with this suggestion and showered Hermes with gifts.
Sounds like an interesting tale, doesn’t it. Well it is much better if you read it yourself. The next tale I read was of Krishna. This one story was the most confusing of the four I read. To fully understand it you must read it and interpret it for yourself. I will try to do the best I can.
Rama and Krsna were two children who loved to play in the village. First they crawled and then they walked causing the village women to laugh and giving them great pleasure. Then Krsna started to untie the cows at inappropriate times and steal milk and curds. Krsna’s mother was unable to scold him after looking at the child’s’ frightened face. She could only smile. One day a report came to her that Krsna had eaten dirt. She could not take it anymore and grabbed his hand and began to scold him. Krsna swore he had not eaten dirt and to prove this opened his mouth for his mother to peer inside. While looking into her child’s’ mouth she saw everything that was in the world. She saw all forms of life and time, she saw actions and hopes, her own village and herself. In the winter a group of girls celebrating vows to the goddess Katayayani went to the river, took off their clothes and chanted to Krsna. Krsna appeared and told them to take their clothes and go back to the village. When hearing the divine word from him the girls felt they had obtained what they wanted and returned to the village under Krshnas’ command. To fully understand this story it is necessary to read it yourself and indulge in the vocabulary and trickster ways, which Krshna had shown.
The next tale that I would like to share with you is the tale of Old Man Coyote. I hope this story intrigues you as it did me. This story told of a poor old coyote that wished he could renew his youth and vibrancy. One day he spotted a strong proud buffalo. He knew that this animal could help him so he went to ask the buffalo for his assistance. The buffalo said that he could make the old man coyote young and strong but could not restore his powers. Thankfully the coyote agreed to the buffalo’s conditions and the process began. Once the coyote was transformed into a youthful buffalo the old man coyote began his youthful days of fun. One day, four years later another old coyote limped toward the buffalo. This time the buffalo was the transformed coyote. The old coyote asked for the buffalo to help him in his elderly days and transform him into a young buffalo as well. Forgetting that he had no powers the old transformed coyote offered his services and said that he knew how to help him. He led the old coyote to the same hill that he used four years ago. Following all the steps in which he had been transformed the buffalo tried to transform the old coyote. The result of this was that the buffalo had become his old coyote self once more. This story proved that if you start something it is always good to finish or the product is not as good as the real thing. This story was much simpler to read then the story of Krsna.
The last tale I read concerned Legba, of the Fon tribe. This tale had four different sections, the first two describe why God lives in heaven and not on Earth. The second two describe the oracle’s connection with God. The first section involves Legba. The tale explains how Legba and God lived together on Earth. God would blame all the mishaps on Legba. Yet whenever something good happened God would take the credit. One day Legba slipped into Gods sandals and stole the five yams which were growing in Gods garden. Since the rain had left the ground wet, the sandals left clear footprints in the ground so the next morning they were still there. God brought everyone over to see who fit the footprints. Legba offered the idea that maybe God had taken the yams in his sleep, so God put his foot in the print and saw that it was a perfect fit. All the people could not believe God could do this and even though God blamed his son for this act, he still moved off of the Earth leaving Legba to report the doing of the people on the Earth.
The second tale tells how Legba asked an old woman to throw her dirty laundry water in to the air, as God got tired of getting hit in the face with dirty water he left Legba to see over the Earth.
The other two parts of this tale explain how God watched over the Earth. One idea that has been reported is that Legba is associated with Fa. Fa lived on top of a palm tree and every day Legba would come and open his eyes. Since Fa did not like to convey his wishes out loud he would throw one palm nut down if he wanted two eyes open and two palm nuts if he wanted one eye open. This was done so that Fa could look over the world.
Now that I have explained about these stories I have read, I hope you see the pattern that they are all connected by. They are all tales having to do with tricksters. Each story conveys a different characteristic that a trickster displays. In the story of Hermes, the characteristic displayed is cunning. Using his talents, Hermes avoided trouble and received not only respect and promotion but also gifts from the people that he had stolen from.
In the tale of Krsna, the mother allowed the boy to get away with his evil deeds because of his divine powers. A perfect example of this divinity occurred when he opened his mouth and the mother could see the whole universe. This example is the divinity inherent in the trickster.
In the tale of the old man coyote the characteristic displayed is unmerited kindness. This is demonstrated by the transformed coyote giving up his youth to help another. Even though he did this unwittingly he did not have to try to help the second coyote.
The last tale showed the trickster framing another so that he could escape Gods’ constant attention, and also so that he would gain the respect that he felt he deserved. This demonstrates the characteristic of guile. In all these stories the trickster does show a good heart but also a cunning side which is primarily what makes him what he is and what he is infamous for.
I hope my letter has brought a little insight to the subject of tricksters. Also, I hope my summaries have made you interested in reading the stories in whole at your leisure.
Yours truly,
Другие работы по теме:
Nat King Cole Essay Research Paper NAT
Nat King Cole Essay, Research Paper NAT KING COLE BORN MARCH 17, 1919 DIED FEBRUARY 15, 1965 BORN NATHANIEL ADAMS COLES HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN- AMERICAN WHO BECAME A SUCCESS WITH THE WHITE AUDIENCE.
The Alamo Essay Research Paper I shall
The Alamo Essay, Research Paper I shall never surrender or retreat … I Am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what it is due to his honor and that of his country-VICTORY OR DEATH.” This was a letter sent by William Barret Travis during the siege of the Alamo on February 24, 1836.
Mars And Venus United By Love Essay
, Research Paper ?Mars and Venus United by Love? by Paolo Veronese is done in the Renaissance style of painting. This is done in this style, because Poalo Veroneses was a Renaissance painter as well as his teacher Titan.
Mythology Essay Research Paper Greek MythologyMythology is
Mythology Essay, Research Paper Greek Mythology Mythology is a way that the ancient societies explained why things are the way they are and how they came to being. Two ancient societies are infamous for their mythology. These societies are Greece and Rome. Great authors were made be the mythological works they wrote.
Good Paper Essay Research Paper Theseus and
Good Paper Essay, Research Paper Theseus and Heracles were very similar characters in mythology. In this paper I plan to point out these similarities, and also tell what is different between them. First of all, Theseus and Heracles were both well know for their strength and hero-like attitudes. They were well known for helping people, or places, out from certain evils such as Theseus killing the Minotaur so that the tributes to it would cease.
Greek Heroes Essay Research Paper The Irony
Greek Heroes Essay, Research Paper The Irony of Being A Hero Heroes played many roles in Greek mythology, where several people were tried and admired in a variety of ways. The Greeks consider heroes as people who go on an extraordinary journey, completing an impossible task, and being courageous. According to the Webster?s Dictionary, the definition of a hero is a man who is admired for his achievements and qualities, but the definition varies in the perspective of different individuals.
The Hero
’s Journey Essay, Research Paper There are eight steps a person must take to become a hero, most noticably an epic hero, in Greek Mythology. These eight steps are the call, the threshold, the challenges, the abyss, the transformation, the revelation, the atonement, and the return.
AngloSaxon Gods Essay Research Paper Anglo Saxon
Anglo-Saxon Gods Essay, Research Paper Anglo- Saxon Gods The Anglo-Saxon period was very interesting. Especially the ancient poems and mythology. While looking around, the Gods captured my attention. Three of them to be exact, Woden, Thunor and Tiw.
Mythology Essay Research Paper MythologyEvery race of
Mythology Essay, Research Paper Mythology Every race of humans and most cultures believed in a myth or type of myth at one time. Sometimes a myth can be something small like a teacher who?s said to be an alien. Yet some are quite big and still believed in today like the loch ness monster. Myths have been around since the beginning of time and will be there to the end.
Richard Wright Essay Research Paper In his
Richard Wright Essay, Research Paper In his development of this theme, Richard Wright alludes to several stories from classical Greek mythology, most notably the stories of Oedipus of Thebes. Like Sophocles’ stories of Oedipus, Native Son intertwines the idea of hubris (”excessive pride”) with the idea of blindness.
Greek Mythology Essay Research Paper Since the
Greek Mythology Essay, Research Paper Since the days when man lived in caves and struggled to survive, he has wondered about the world that surrounds him. What makes the sun rise and set? Why are there seasons?
Aphrodite Essay Research Paper Bullfinch
Aphrodite Essay, Research Paper Bullfinch once said ?Mythology is the handmaid of literature…?. That means that mythology is necessarily subservient or subordinate to literature. I personally think that
Comparison Essay Essay Research Paper Comparison EssayThere
Comparison Essay Essay, Research Paper Comparison Essay There are many different ways to explain the beginning and creation. Genesis and Edith Hamilton?s ?Mythology,? are two of many literary works you can find. Both show how characters were created and formed. They give detailed understanding and examples of creation.
Heroism In Mythology Essay Research Paper Heroism
Heroism In Mythology Essay, Research Paper Heroism is an important element in both Roman and Greek mythology. Honored as a man of cunning and a master of strategy, Odysseus is a beau ideal of Greek
Mythology Essay Research Paper History reminds us
Mythology Essay, Research Paper History reminds us we do not exist in a vacuum but are beings part of a larger whole dependent on shared wisdoms and beliefs. Countless aeons of story telling traditions and evolving mythologies speak to the very heart of our humanity. These shared stories, rituals and wisdoms have fallen by the wayside leaving our children with a sense of profound isolation and detachment.
Insomnia Essay Research Paper English bookreportTitle
Insomnia Essay, Research Paper English bookreport Title : Insomnia Writer: Stephen King Ralph Roberts is an old man who lives in Derry, Maine (USA). He has a problem : he can’t sleep. Every morning he keeps waking up earlier; 3:15…3:02…2:45, and he can’t go back
Amy Foster Essay Research Paper
“Amy Foster” and “The Mythology of Love”In “Amy Foster”, Joseph Conrad has written a great story that shows the different types of love felt between Amy and Yanko as described by Joseph Campbell in his essay on “The Mythology of Love”. The relationship of Yanko and Amy is dynamic and changes as the story progresses.
Christianity And Islam Essay Research Paper Christianity
Christianity And Islam Essay, Research Paper Christianity, Islam, Judaism February 6th This day on Febuary the sixth, was started off with slides. The first slide represents Christianity. The picture was of a group of people walking and carrying crosses walking along the path that Jesus took. The second slide was a slide of the Kabah.
Mythology Essay Research Paper What is mythology
Mythology Essay, Research Paper What is mythology? Mythology is like a fib that started many years ago in the olden days. It is still around due to people still continuing to use a myth as the truth. They seem to not know the difference between a myth and a legend. People these days are so naive it is ashame to know the rate of people that actually believe those myths.
Alcoholism Essay Research Paper My bookreport is
Alcoholism Essay, Research Paper My bookreport is about living with someone who drinks too much. I chose this topic because hit its very close to home. In the book that I read it tells about other children who are or have grown
Polyphemus Essay Research Paper Polyphemus according to
Polyphemus Essay, Research Paper Polyphemus according to Greek mythology was the son of Poseidon and the nymph-thoosa. In all of my research on Polyphemus I have found that he has no powers, nor does he have symbols. But besides his enormous size and his herding of goats and sheep.
Mythology Essay Research Paper The origin of
Mythology Essay, Research Paper The origin of the universe can be explained by modern astronomers and astrophysicists, while archaeologists and historians try to clarify the origin of human societies. In the distant past, however, before any sciences existed, the beginnings of the world and of society were explained by MYTHOLOGY.
Mercury Essay Research Paper MercuryIn Roman mythology
Mercury Essay, Research Paper MercuryIn Roman mythology Mercury is messenger of the gods, and son of the god Jupiter. Mercury is the planet closest to the sun. Its distance from the sun is approximately 58 million km (about 36 million miles); its diameter is 4875 km (3030 miles); its volume and mass are about : that of the earth; and its density is approximately equal to that of the earth.
The Real Arthur Essay Research Paper The
The Real Arthur Essay, Research Paper The Real King Arthur Arthur had been identified as the son of British king Uther Pendragon, who was the son of Constantine. Whatever else Arthur is, he is a composite figure of many different legends and beliefs. Some have even related his adventures to Greek mythology.
Mythology And Policy Essay Research Paper Mythology
Mythology And Policy Essay, Research Paper Mythology and policy has been a part of human culture for as long as there has been civilization . Day provides us with a history of the beginnings of social welfare. She speaks how social policy as well as social welfare has effected individuals, families, and the larger society of today.
Fate And Destiny Essay Research Paper Fate
Fate And Destiny Essay, Research Paper Fate and Destiny In the beginning a man and a woman were born. They married each other and lived a life that was filled with much happiness and joy. One day a terrible
Cover Letter Essay Research Paper February 14
Cover Letter Essay, Research Paper February 14, 2001 XXX Inc PO Box 827 Angola, IN-46703 Dear Ms XXX: I am applying for the summer internship in information systems, which we discussed during the Career Exposition at Tri-State University in Fort Wayne on (02/12/01). My bachelor’s degree in Information Systems and academic record are my strongest qualifications for this position.
The Clash Of The Titans Essay Research
Paper The movie “The Clash of the Titans” was very good because it was a fantasy-adventure based on Greek mythology and Greek history. Perseus, the son of Zeus, must face a variety of awesome challenges in pursuit of his destiny. It is a long and episodic movie with fine elements that focuses its story on ancient mythology.