Pasig, AJ Aaron T.

English 2B
1. Define mythology and folklore.
Mythology refers to a set of legends, stories, or beliefs, especially ones that illustrate a religious
or cultural tradition.
Folklore is oral history that is preserved by the people of the culture, consisting of traditions
belonging to a specific culture. These traditions usually include music, stories, history, legends,
and myths.
2. Types of myths.
a. Aetiological Myths (sometimes spelled etiological) explain the reason why something is
the way it is today. The word aetiological is from the Greek word aetion (αἴτιον) meaning reason
or explanation.
b. Historical Myths are told about a historical event, and they help keep the memory of that
event alive. Ironically, in historical myths, the accuracy is lost but meaning is gained. The myths
about the Trojan War, including the Iliad and the Odyssey, could be classified as historical myths.
The Trojan War did occur, but the famous characters that we know from the Iliad and the
Odyssey (Agamemnon, Achilles, Hector, etc.) probably did not exist.
c. Psychological Myths try to explain why we feel and act the way we do. A psychological
myth is different from an aetiological myth because a psychological myth does not try to explain
one thing by way of something else (such as lightning and thunder can be explained by Zeus’
anger). In a psychological myth, the emotion itself is seen as a divine force, coming from the
outside, that can directly influence a person’s emotions.
3. Terms oftenly used in discussing mythology.
Aetiological - is the study of causes, origins, reasons. In mythology, an aetiological myth
explains, superficially at least, the reasons why a certain state affairs exists.
Apotropaic - warding off or "turning away" evil.
Autochthonous - native to a particular place; aboriginal; indigenous.
Cosmogony - the study of or a theory of the creation and evolution of the universe.
Chthonic - pronounced thon'-ic pertaining to gods and spirits of the underworld.
Etymology - the study of word origins and derivation.
Theogony - a recitation of the origin and genealogy of the gods, especially as in ancient epic
poetry.
 References :
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-folklore-definition-legends-myths
https://press.rebus.community/mythologyunbound/chapter/three-types-of-myth
http://faculty.gvsu.edu/websterm/mythterms.htm