1.

People still read myths and legends today because they relevant both in the art of storytelling
and in portraying the human experience.
2. They did not know what to think of the world around them leaving them with the option of
them making up stories to explain these things
3. Myths create a system of values and beliefs within society.
4. Myths do not provide truth, but a escape. They allow people to believe theres a bigger reason
than outside of themselves.
5. Yes they do. Take for example Grimm’s Fairy Tales, they would try to instill morals through
their stories.
1. -Myth and legends often contributed to conflict between social groups due to inherent
different in value that derived from their own perspective myth/legends.

- Myth and legends often become the basis for that society to unfairly treated a certain
group of society.

-This class wouldnt exsist and i believe the world would be worse for there would be a
lack of imagination

2. In American Cutlrue, boogey man is used to describe a creature or individuals who are
hiding near your personal space and waiting for the opportunities to come and hurt
you.
3. I would choose bravery as the character traits. This can be seen in Robin Hood
4. Since vikings highly value bravery in battle, the idea of their afterlife is a place where
the warriors who bravely died in battlefield was honored. Their idea of an afterlife
would be an utopian place where not a single hatred exist
5. I think the closest thing we have is Corn, we have tons of corn in Pennsylvania. Corn
can represent the dark struggles that our country have during our early interactions
with the natives(This is because corn was incredibly important to them

Review Questions

1. How do myths and legends shape a society?

2. How were myths and legends used to explain the natural world before science?

3. What role do myths play in the cultural activities of a society?

4. How do myths provide life with meaning?

5. Do myths and legends establish moral guidelines for living?

Critical Thinking Questions

1. Name at least three ways our culture would be different if we had no myths and legends. Do you think life would be better, the same, or worse?

2. The bogeyman can be found all over the world. Describe how the bogeyman is portrayed in our culture.

3. Think of a character trait you believe is important in a person. Now describe a myth or legend from our culture that reinforces the importance of the trait.
4. The Viking version of the afterlife was an extension of what was important to them on Earth: bravery in battle. Describe what the afterlife might look like to a culture that valued a theme of your choosing. Ideas: wealth, peace,

knowledge, entertainment, independence, etc.

5. Food and drink are often the objects of myth and legend. Describe a food or drink that a visitor to our country might think was sacred to us.