Aahana Katti 

Professor Heather Sottong 

World Literature

9th March 2023

 

Definition of Myth 

‘Truth’, ‘Love’, ‘Value’, and ‘Myth’. These are all examples of words that people use in everyday conversations without, on the most part, grasping their full meaning. Such words have slipped into our lives in a way that has made their meaning diluted and misunderstood. The reason is perhaps that individuals have different definitions of these words. The word ‘myth’ is especially debated on since it is present in cultures across the world and can include many elements. This essay aims to understand the essential components of myth, and moreover what it is not. Myth has had different meanings and functions across cultures, and it can also have various origins. These elements have been discussed in this essay, in an attempt to have a concrete idea of what myth is. It is difficult to have a universal definition which encompasses all myths since there are many in number. Therefore, this essay will include, in my opinion, the most relevant and plausible theories. 

From the Vedas to the Greeks, and even modern day societies, myth is an important part of people’s lives. The prevalence of myth in all corners of the world suggests that it is important to humanity in many different ways. There are many theories that explain the function of myths in society. It has been suggested that myths were used in ancient times to describe natural phenomena, which could not yet be explained by science (Rodgerson). This could also mean that myth explains phenomena that humanity did not have easy answers to. In this theory, myth attempts to answer the so-called “Big Questions” of mankind. This trend can be seen in myths such as Peresperone controlling the seasons in Greek mythology or Lord Indra controlling the rains in Hinduism. These examples suggest that myths are stories that were used to explain the universe in a time where there was limited access to scientific knowledge. 

Myth can also be cautionary tales. Many stories in myth have moral lessons or are telling of some rules in society. Joseph Campbell, suggested in his “Four Functions of Myth” that they have a strong sociological purpose in cultures (Smith). Often, myths helped in explaining aspects of social construct or upholding them. In Christianity, this could refer to Eve’s Greed in regards to the apple. These stories could also be told in order to maintain the rules and regulations of a certain society. They would be capable of instilling fear, or giving promise of a brighter future if the rules were followed. In many cultures, heaven is used as a reward for good behavior. These stories of heaven and hell can also be regarded as myth. In the above two theories, myth has a distinctive purpose in culture. They are important to an individual's lives and affect the way society operates. This is an important component of myth, since it should or attempt to impact the culture or society it is born from. 

In order for myth to carry out a specific purpose, people must believe in the myth. Therefore, if a story is to be considered myth it must be believed by its culture or society. For example, the consequences laid out in the myth must be thought possible. People could believe in myth for a variety of reasons. If the characters and situation in myth are divine in nature, this could tie into the religious beliefs of a certain society. This would apply to Pandora’s Box, or the Twelve Labors of Hercules. Conversely, it could also be because the myth was born from true incidents. This suggests that the characters within the myth did exist at one point of time. When  the story was shared across generations, the details might have been exaggerated or changed. This theory is called Euhemerism. People would be inclined to believe such stories because they would have relatable aspects from their own culture. For example, many historians have found evidence of the existence of a king Ram in India who could have been the inspiration for Ramayana. This increases people’s belief in the myth and its teachings. 

Another important aspect of myth is its time period. They are usually set in a time that is perceived to be in the distant past. The exact moment of time could differ, since creation myths would be pre-mankind while some take place within human society. However, all myths have a certain timelessness. In William Bascom’s article, this is explained using the Hourglass Theory. He suggested that myth takes place at the bottom of the hourglass which “signifies that there is no time before myth,” (Bascom). Therefore, an important aspect of myth would be that it takes place in an unidentifiable time period which predates current society. 

As mentioned before, it is nearly impossible to have a universal definition of myth. The set of myths is too large to have an overarching set of components to include. However, the above mentioned factors are some of the most important and common features that myths across the globe have. Therefore, it can be said that myth could have most of, if not all the above mentioned elements.

To grasp the full meaning of myth is difficult, and there will never be a shortage of theories. This essay examines four such possibilities which relate to the function it plays in society, its origins and its time period. These factors create a framework of what can be expected from a myth and how to identify one. 

 

Work Cited

Bascom. William. “The Forms of Folklore: Prose Narratives.” Journal of American Folklore 78. 

1965. 

Campbell, Joseph. “Four Functions of Myth,”. New World Library. pp 6-10. 

Rodgerson, John. “Slippery Words: Myth”.  Expository Times 90. 

Smith, Laura Ann. “Joseph Campbell’s Functions of Myth in Science Fiction: Modern 

Mythologies and the Historical and Ahistorical Duality of Time”. Virginia Polytechnic 

Institute and State University. 8 May 2013.

https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstream/handle/10919/25350/Smith_LA_T_2014.pdf