EN 2070 (WS 2070) - Comparative Mythology

This course is an in depth study of the importance of creation myths, myths of destruction and of re‐birth, quest myths of the hero, the recurring theme of the theft of fire, the importance of the goddess in earlier myths, and her relative abdication in favor of god(s) in later ones. Diverse peoples the world over seem to dream using similar archetypal images. We will examine what this fact may suggest. What could be the implications of such a phenomenon? In addition, this course will help the students decipher works of art and literary texts by identifying often obscure myth references in them. Our approach will be comparative and thematic using examples from several diverse cultures. Offered every spring. Credits: 4