Unit 7: Comparative Mythology

Dr. Jamie Tehrani studied thirty-five Cinderella tales from around the world.

Which creature is used symbolically in most world religions?

What are some of the serpent themes found in sacred myths?

Flood stories can be found in almost every culture.

How many great flood legends have been found?

The fact that there are many world languages was often a curse from the gods in mythology.

According to Greek Legend, Pandora let evil into the world on purpose.

Approximately how many languages are officially recognized?

Myths evolve over the years to reflect changes in society and the cultures that adopt them.

Which world tree only produces fruit every three thousand years?

Which culture had serpents guarding the secrets of the gods?

Particularists search for similarities in myths and comparativists search for differences in myths.

Comparative mythology is the study of myths from different cultures in order to find the differences.

What is the idea that there is one universal hero tale called?

Which ancient work(s) mentions the great flood?

What is the Ethnologue?

Which of the following traces stories, themes, and words back to their roots?

Which of the following world religions believed life actually began in their Tree of Life?

Mythemes were first identified by Levi Strauss.

What is the common structure that links all of the Cinderella stories called?

Which of the following look for patterns in history that help them predict events in the modern sky?

What is the name of an object used to represent something else?

Zeus, Jupiter, and Dyaus all can be traced to a common root.

Which of the following themes is NOT a balanced theme often found in comparative religions?

A hero rescuing a fair maiden is an example of a mytheme.