Home » Reading & Literature » Mythology » Introduction: Mythology

Introduction: Mythology

© Linda Casselman

Why should we be interested in Mythology? It's just a bunch of stories about ancient gods and heroes that no longer apply to us. Right? Those old tales have no meaning for us in the modern world. Who needs it? Right?

Wrong! Mythology does indeed apply to us. It is all around us, in every day of the week influencing what we do. Look at the various holidays some of us might celebrate for instance. Christmas... Halloween... Did you ever wonder what they were all about? I mean, what they are really about? You'll find mythology there for certain if you look hard enough. In fact, mythology played a big part in shaping what we are today, all of us, in all cultures.

Great. But what is mythology you ask. The Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory defines Myth like this:

In general a myth is a story which is not 'true' and which involves (as a rule) supernatural beings - or at any rate supra-human beings. Myth is always concerned with creation. Myth explains how something came to exist. Myth embodies feeling and concept ... Many myths or quasi-myths are primitive explanations of the natural order and cosmic forces.

So mythology is the collection of stories (myths), supernatural beings, deities, symbols, and belief systems of a culture.

Myths brought light to darkness and meaning to seeming chaos for ancient people. Their mythologies shaped their lives and affected their beliefs giving them some sense of security and order and something to hold on to in their frightening world.

Darkness and fear, for the ancients, began at the edge of the circle of light from their fire. Darkness was an entity unto itself for them. It was close and alive full of hidden dangers. And it is out of this fear of the dark, of the night, that many myths were created. Monsters lurked in the darkness and heroes, like Beowulf, were born to slay them.

When I get up in the night for a glass of water or a trip to the bathroom, those ancient fears sometimes creep up on me. Could Grendel be hiding around the corner waiting to tear me apart? Luckily, in our modern age I have the luxury of banishing the darkness with the flick of a switch if my fears overcome me. The ancients did not. They braved the night as best as they could until the glorious sun returned to comfort them and light their way.

The copyright of the article Introduction: Mythology in Mythology is owned by Linda Casselman. Permission to republish Introduction: Mythology in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.