Catalog Description

Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL 1A
Hours: 54 lecture
Description: The major elements of western mythology, its history and development as part of the human experience and its influence on art, literature and politics. (CSU, UC)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Identify and describe diverse cultural values and artifacts related to mythology.
  • CSLO #2: Analyze and evaluate diverse cultural values and artifacts related to mythology.
  • CSLO #3: Compare and contrast selected values and artifacts relevant to mythology within and/or across cultures and eras.
  • CSLO #4: Communicate effectively orally or in writing on topic relevant to mythology.

Effective Term

Fall 2022

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

Students will, through oral and written work:
1. Discuss and evaluate the ways in which the themes and patterns of myths provide insights into human experience;
2. Analyze and chart the ways in which cultural circumstances and values are reflected in myths;
3. Discuss and describe the relationship between myths and their cultural and historical settings as found in Classical, Hebrew, Norse, Babylonian and Sumerian, and Egyptian mythological systems;
4. Compare and contrast mythological Gods, heroes, adventures and creation stories from Classical, Hebrew, Norse, Babylonian and Sumerian, and Egyptian mythological systems;
5. Describe the historical background in which myths were created and analyze why these myths originated and succeeded in their specific historical and cultural climates;
6. Communicate analyses, interpretations and critiques about myths and mythology;
7. Identify and analyze the social, political and cultural influences on the development of mythology from the various aforementioned historical/cultural systems;
8. Identify and analyze the effects of mythological systems on social, political and cultural systems of the various aforementioned systems;
9. Describe and discuss the influence of myth on art and literature;
10. Describe and evaluate the influence of myth on historical as well as present day politics.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Literature & Language
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - C2 Humanities
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
      • IGETC - 3B Humanities

    Articulation Information

    • CSU Transferable
    • UC Transferable

    Methods of Evaluation

    • Classroom Discussions
      • Example: After learning about the various and their cultural and historical settings in Norse mythology, students will be prompted to analyze the various themes found in "The Voluspo" from the Poetic Edda. Based on these discussions, students will write a short paragraph identifying which part of the story is most appealing in terms of providing provide insights into the human experienc. Submitted paragraphs will be evaluated by whether they include relevant concepts and coherent reasoning.
    • Essay Examinations
      • Example: In a short essay, students will compare and contrast three elements from the myth of Pandora with the story of Adam and Eve. Use examples and passages from relevant primary texts to help explain and support your ideas
    • Objective Examinations
      • Example: A. Students will take a multiple-choice examination that identifies various elements within particular myths. For example: In Sumerian mythology, who is the god/goddess of wisdom, magic and incantations who resides in the ocean under the earth? (A) Ea/Enki; (B) Ereshkigal; (C) Astarte; (D) Anu.
    • Projects
      • Example: Create a poster board that presents compares and contrasts mythological Gods, heroes, adventures and creation stories from Classical, Hebrew, Norse, Babylonian and Sumerian, and Egyptian mythological systems.

    Repeatable

    No

    Methods of Instruction

    • Lecture/Discussion
    • Distance Learning

    Lecture:

    1. Using a slide-presentation for an on-ground lecture, the instructor will present the various examples of mythological heroes. Through an interactive discussion, students will be asked to compare and contrast ancient Greek mythological heroes with individual found in the Hebrew Bible.

    Distance Learning

    1. Students will watch a video of the instructor explaining the historical context in which myths were created. In a discussion board assignment, students will describe the connection between particular myths and their historical context, and explain why these myths originated and succeeded in their specific historical context.

    Typical Out of Class Assignments

    Reading Assignments

    1. Read Hesiod's account of the myth of Pandora ("Theogony" lines 560-612; "Works and Days" lines 60 - 105), and be prepared to discuss how Hesiod characterizes the feminine. 2. Read Read the chapter "The Voluspo" from the Poetic Edda and be prepared to discuss the themes of creation, conflict, and destruction within it.

    Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

    1. Write a three page paper comparing and contrasting the story of Pandora with the story of Adam and Eve. 2. Pick a myth and analyze it from the points of view of various scholarly disciplines (you may not pick Oedipus Rex). 3. Read the story of Abraham's Binding of Isaac (Genesis 22), then read Soren Kierkegaard's "Fear and Trembling". Write a one page paper summarizing Kierkegaard's arguments, and a one page analysis of his argument: Do you agree with his analysis? Why or why not?

    Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

    Required Materials

    • Myth and Knowing: An Introduction to World Mythology
      • Author: Scott A. Leonard, Michael McClure
      • Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
      • Publication Date: 2003
      • Text Edition:
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • The Iliad (Homer)
      • Author: Stephen Mitchell
      • Publisher: Atria Books
      • Publication Date: 2012
      • Text Edition: 1st, Reprint
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Theogony and Works and Days (Hesiod)
      • Author: M.L. West
      • Publisher: Oxford World's Classics
      • Publication Date: 2009
      • Text Edition:
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • The World of Myth: An Anthology
      • Author: David A. Leeming
      • Publisher: Oxford University Press
      • Publication Date: 2018
      • Text Edition: 3rd
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Classical Mythology: Images & Insights
      • Author: Stephen Harris and Gloria Platzner
      • Publisher: McGraw-Hill
      • Publication Date: 2011
      • Text Edition: 6th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:

    Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.