Madeline Richey

6th Period

9/21/11

Chapter 9It’s Greek to

Me

The Meaning of Myth

When most people think of myth,

they believe it to be untrue material

and beliefs. However, Foster refers to

myth as the “…the shaping and

sustaining power of a story and

symbol”(Foster 64).

Why myths are used?

We use myths to explain ourselves and shape our culture in

ways that other subjects can’t.

“All three of these mythologies work as sources of material, correspondences, of depth for the modern writer(and every writer is modern-even John Dryden was not an archaic when

he was writing), and provided they’re recognizable to the reader, they enrich and enhance the reading

experience”(Foster 65).

*John Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright.

“Lets say it this way: myth is a body of story that matters”(Foster 65).

“Every community has its own body of story that matters. Nineteenth-century composer Richard Wagner went back to

Germanic myths for material for his operas…Native American writing, much of which went back to tribal myth

for material, for imagery, for theme, as in the case of Leslie Marmon Silko’s ‘Yellow Woman,’”(Foster 65)

The artist reflects on stories that are of importance to him and his community in their work. This helps break the

barrier between author and audience and allows the work to be relatable.

“…Situations match up more closely than we expect”(Foster 69).

…Why should somebody try to compare modern fishermen with these legendary heroes, many of whom were descended from

gods?”(Foster 69).

Once upon a time, most heroes were farmers and fisherman and aren’t we all descended from the Gods? The gap between heroes and commoners isn't unworldly. For every situation, there is an

equal Greek or Roman model.

An example, being heartbreak and jealousy, found in the plot of the Iliad.

Although it is commonly mistaken as a story of the Trojan War, “At its core, it’s the story of a man who goes berserk because his stolen

war bride is confiscated…”(Foster 70).

Ironically through time, this story has developed ideas of heroism, loyalty, sacrifice, and loss.

The Four Main Struggles“…with nature, with the divine, with other humans, and with

ourselves”(Foster 71).

Myths address the many difficulties we face as humans. A great example of these struggles are in the Story of Icarus.

Icarus tried to escape from Crete, using wings his father, Daedalus built him out of feathers and wax. Before his take off, his father warned him not to fly too close to the sun for it would cause the wax to melt. Carried away by freedom, Icarus ignored his father’s instructions and his carelessness caused him an unscheduled dive into the sea.

In his fall, we see “the parental attempt to save the child and the grief

at having failed, the cure that proves deadly as the ailment, the youthful exuberance that leads to self-destruction, the clash between sober, adult wisdom and adolescent recklessness, and of course the terror involved in that headlong descent into the sea”(Foster 67)

Portraying Characters

Very often, present day literary characters are

compared and/or characterized by Greek Gods.

“Besides, these folks aren’t saints. They make a

lot of mistakes: they’re petty, envious, lustful,

occasionally greedy as well as courageous,

elegant, powerful, knowledgeable,

profound”(Foster 68). When characters traits are

recognized of those of Gods, it helps bring the

story to a relatable level.

Greek Myth and Great Expectations

“ ‘Is that one of the names of this house, miss?’ ‘One of its names, boy.’ ‘It has more than one, then, miss?’ ‘One more. Its other name was Satis; which is Greek, or Latin, or

Hebrew, or all three-or all one to me- for enough.’ ‘Enough House!’ said I; ‘that’s a curious name, miss.’ ‘Yes,’ she replied; ‘but it meant more than it said. It meant, when it

was given, that whoever had this house could want nothing else. They must have been easily satisfied in those days, I should think. But don’t loiter boy” (Dickens 58).

The word Satis is derived from Greek and means enough. The Satis House reflects the corruption, decay and fate of its owner.

How Greek mythology can be related to everyday life

“Greek and Roman myth is so much a part of the fabric of our

consciousness, of our unconsciousness really, that we scarcely notice”(Foster 66). Greek influences are heavily common through our society, wither it be a statue, a team mascot, or title. Being that, we are a “…fair distance from anything that can be called Aegean or Ionian it suggest that Greek myth has had pretty good staying power”(Foster 66).

We are often oblivious to the impact of mythology in our daily lives.

Nike, Venus Razors, Ajax, Amazon, Minerva Oil, Pandora, Trident, Medusa Cement Company, and the Days of the Week all

originated from Greek myth and culture..

 Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. New York: Bantam Dell, 1986. Print.

 Foster, Thomas C. How to Read

Literature Like a Professor. New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, Inc., 2003. Print.

Works Cited