Ways to Interpret Myths

Question 1

Euhemerism

Answer 1

All fantastic elements in myth are exaggerations of real historical events
Ex. The crazy places in the Odyssey are just exaggerated version of real places

Question 2

Spiritual Allegory

Answer 2

Journey of the soul to reach virtue
Encounters are all symbols/challenges to reach salvation

Question 3

Structuralism

Answer 3

Binary patterns, which form a system within a particular culture
Eating/being eaten
Land/sea
Animals/humans

Question 4

Functionalism

Answer 4

Myths serve social functions, to teach values
Ex. the importance of Xenia in the Odyssey

Question 5

Ritual

Answer 5

Myths emerged to explain rituals, or rituals emerged to explain myths

Question 6

Freudian

Answer 6

Universal castration anxiety
The dangerous giants and hostile Poseidon are your dad, and the seductive goddesses are your mom

Question 7

Archetypes

Answer 7

These myths are about an archetypical narrative that shapes all human lives
Its the universal journey in which the hero encounters archetypical challenges

Question 8

Feminist/gender studies

Answer 8

Patriarchal/heteronormative myths of femininity

Question 9

Environmental/Eco-critical

Answer 9

Myths are about the anxieties of living as an island people
Critiques of anthropocentrism

Question 10

Decolonial/ethic studies

Answer 10

These myths are about fear/hatred of non-Greek ethnic or racial others