Humanities Key Terms

Anthropomorphic

Having human characteristics

Archetype

a model (e.g. the hero, the circle, the journey) that, through mythology, becomes part of our subconscious and an addition to the way we organize our thinking about ourselves, human beings in general, and the nature of the universe.

Collective unconcious

Jung’s phrase for the universality of many myths and archetypes among cultures, some of which could not possibly have had any contact with each other.

Gender roles

the way acceptable behavior and functions for men and women are defined in a given culture

Monomyth

referece made by Irsih novelist James Joyce to what he considered a fundamental myth of all cultures that of the hero. Also known as the world myth. The concept was developed by Joesphs Campbell. In western mythology, the hero is a special individual ordained by fate to be the doer of wondrous deeds, often as the savior of a whole group of people. In many western myths, the hero’s power does not last.

Mythology

the collective myths of a specific culture or group of cultures; the organized study of myths either those of world cultures or those of a specific culture

Myths

tales and beliefs transmitted from generation, or springing up as part of the popular mind in a current generation, many containing psychological truth or fufilling deep rooted need

parable

a simple story told to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson