Mythology and Folklore Exam Review Flashcards

Comprehensive practice flashcards in Question and Answer format covering definitions, genres, themes, world mythologies, deities, mythical creatures, and theoretical perspectives based on lecture notes.

How does Webster define a myth?

A story, usually of unknown origin and at least partially traditional, that insensibly relates historical events, usually of such description as to serve to explain some particular institution or natural phenomenon.

What is the Greek origin and etymology of the word "mythology" as used in Plato?

It comes from mythología, combining mỹthos (narrative, fiction) and logía (discourse, able to speak about), which Plato used as a general term for fiction or story-telling.

What is folklore?

The expressive body culture shared by a particular group of people, encompassing common traditions, tales, proverbs, jokes, material culture, and preserved oral history passed down through generations.

How does a literary fairy tale differ from an oral folk tale?

A fairy tale in this sense is written by a single identifiable author, whereas an oral folk tale is simple, anonymous, and exists in a mutable form passed down by storytellers.

What is the Latin origin and meaning of the word "supernatural"?

It comes from the Latin word supernaturalis, meaning "beyond nature", describing anything that cannot be explained by the laws of nature.

What is a fable, and what is a writer of fables called?

A fable is a succinct fictional story featuring animals, plants, or forces of nature that illustrates a moral lesson (often summed up in a short maxim). A writer of fables is called a fabulist.

What is the Latin root of the word "legend"?

It comes from the Latin legere, meaning "to read", which originally referred specifically to written stories.

What are the three main types of myths and folklore defined in Chapter 2?

1. Pure Myth / True Myth / Myth Proper (primitive science/religion explaining natural phenomena and divine origins);
2. Saga / Legend (primitive history based on a seed of historical fact);
3. Folk-Tale / Fairy-Tale (primitive fiction told for pleasure and entertainment).

Who was Aesop, and what are Aesop's Fables?

Aesop was a mid-sixth century Greek slave killed by the people of Delphi. Aesop's Fables is a collection of moral stories compiled under his name over 2,000 years ago in Greece.

What is The Panchatantra?

An ancient collection of Indian fables used to educate Indian princes into becoming wise, which largely influenced Aesop's Fables.

Which two complete works by the early Greek poet Hesiod are major sources of Greek mythology?

Theogony and Works and Days (published around 700 B.C.).

Who were the primary deities of the Assyro-Babylonian Mesopotamian tradition?

Annu (sky), Enlil (storm), Enki (water), Ea (wisdom), Ishtar (fertility), and Erishkigal (underworld).

What three major philosophies shaped Chinese mythology?

1. Taoism (balance of yin and yang);
2. Confucianism (leadership, discipline, and learning);
3. Buddhism (reincarnation, good vs. evil, and judgment).

How was the world created according to Finnish mythology?

The world was believed to have been formed out of a pochard egg, with the sky as the upper cover of the egg or as a tent supported by a column at the North Pole.

What is the Kojiki?

The "Record of Ancient Matters", which is the oldest surviving account of Japan's myths, legends, and history.

What are the Roman names for the Greek gods Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, and Athena?

Zeus = Jupiter; Hera = Juno; Poseidon = Neptune; Hades = Pluto; Athena = Minerva.

What are the Roman names for the Greek gods Ares, Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis, and Demeter?

Ares = Mars; Aphrodite = Venus; Hermes = Mercury; Artemis = Diana; Demeter = Ceres.

How was the Greek goddess Athena born?

Zeus swallowed her pregnant mother Metis to prevent a prophecy that Metis would bear a son to overthrow him. Athena later burst fully formed from Zeus's head.

What are Jinn in Arab and Muslim folklore, and what are their five tribes?

Jinn are earth-inhabiting spirits with powers to cast spells and grant wishes. Their five tribes ordered by power are the Marid, Efrit, Shaitan, Jinn, and Jann.

How are Nagas described in Southeast Asian mythology?

Supernatural serpent beings; notably, the serpent king Mucilinda sheltered the Buddha from a seven-day downpour with his seven heads.

What are Kappa in Japanese folklore?

Monkey-like river demons with webbed hands/feet, tortoise shells, and yellow-green skin that lure creatures into deep water to drink their blood and eat cucumbers.

What are Scorpion Men (aqrabuamelu or girtablilu)?

Akkadian mythical beings featured in Enûma Elish and the Epic of Gilgamesh having the head, torso, and arms of a man and the body of a scorpion.

Who was Chiron in Greek mythology?

An immortal centaur (son of Cronus) known for his kindness, wisdom, and mastery of medicine, music, archery, hunting, and prophecy; he served as a trainer of great heroes.

What was Cerberus?

A vicious, three-headed giant hound that guarded the gates of Hades in the Underworld to prevent the living from entering and spirits from escaping.

What is Euhemerism?

An ancient theory proposed by Euhemerus (325–275 BC) stating that all myths originate from real historical events that were gradually exaggerated over time.

What is Carl Jung's theory regarding the origin of myths?

The Jungian Archetype theory, which postulates that humans inherit a genetic "collective unconscious" containing shared universal ideas, motifs, and archetypes across generations.

What is the Structuralist theory of mythology?

A modern theory maintaining that human behavior and myths are structured like language, meaning myths must be analyzed linguistically to understand their real meaning.