Question 1

Recent clichés such as "It is what it is" and "You only live once" might best be thought of as examples of

Accepted Answer

These phrases are examples of popular mythology as they are widely recognized and used in contemporary culture to convey common beliefs or attitudes.

Question 2

Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "The Lotos-eaters," based on a section of Homer's The Odyssey, is considered an example of how myth

Accepted Answer

Myth continues to influence the humanities, as evidenced by Tennyson's poem, which is based on a section of Homer's The Odyssey.

Question 3

Early recognition, great deeds, and eventual loss of power are characteristic of

Accepted Answer

The hero archetype often involves early recognition of the hero's potential, their undertaking of great deeds, and sometimes an eventual loss of power or tragic downfall.

Question 4

Which famous archetype is associated with the Western journey?

Accepted Answer

The Holy Grail is a famous archetype associated with the Western journey, often depicted as a quest for a sacred object in Arthurian legends.

Question 5

Freudians may interpret the Minotaur myth as

Accepted Answer

Freudians often interpret myths in terms of psychosexual development and the Minotaur myth can be seen as a metaphor for a young person's journey towards sexual maturity, with the labyrinth representing the complex path of this development.

Question 6

The myths of childhood

Accepted Answer

The answer of The myths of childhood
...

Question 7

The type of myth most likely to contain fairy tales is

Accepted Answer

The answer of The type of myth most likely to...

Question 8

The myth also known as "the problem of evil" concerns

Accepted Answer

Human suffering is the problem of evil.

Question 9

A myth is best understood as a

Accepted Answer

A myth is typically a traditional story that explains natural or social phenomena, often involving supernatural beings or events.

Question 10

If the myth we are studying involves the notion that life is a series of happenings rather than a quest, that myth is an example of

Accepted Answer

The non-Western idea of life as a journey is that life is a series of happenings rather than a quest.

Question 11

If we believe that some famous actors (such as Robert Downey Jr.) or wealthy people (such as Bill Gates) might be authorities on things such as politics, we are seeing a modern example of which mythical feature?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of "the special someone" where certain individuals are perceived as having authority or special insight in areas outside their expertise due to their fame or wealth.

Question 12

Jung's label for the idea that humans share inborn and instinctual models for understanding human experience is

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jung's label for the idea that humans...

Question 13

With respect to childhood myths, Stephen's Sondheim's Into the Woods is meant to

Accepted Answer

Into the Woods explores the darker, more complex aspects of fairy tales, challenging the comforting illusions often associated with childhood myths.

Question 14

A mythical figure known more for virtue and contributions to society than for singular exploits is an example of

Accepted Answer

In many Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, heroes are often celebrated for their virtues and contributions to society rather than for individual exploits, contrasting with the Western hero archetype.

Question 15

The Oedipus plays and The Oresteia plays all concern myths of

Accepted Answer

The Oedipus plays and The Oresteia plays all concern myths of being cursed by fate.

Question 16

What does Carl Jung call the models that help us understand experiences and deal with the difficult task of being human?

Accepted Answer

Carl Jung referred to "archetypes" as the universal, symbolic models that reside in the collective unconscious and help individuals understand experiences and navigate the complexities of human life.

Question 17

Creation myths deal with

Accepted Answer

Creation myths primarily address the origins of the world and the universe, explaining how the world and its inhabitants came into existence.

Question 18

The problem of suffering, woman as transgressor, and curiosity are all part of the

Accepted Answer

The Greek myth of Pandora involves themes of suffering, as Pandora's curiosity leads her to open a box that releases all the evils into the world, portraying her as a transgressor.

Question 19

The 1959 Brazilian film Black Orpheus is an updated version of a myth involving

Accepted Answer

Black Orpheus is an adaptation of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, which involves Orpheus's descent into the underworld to retrieve his beloved Eurydice.

Question 20

"What goes around comes around"; "Just desserts"; "All you need is love"; are all categories of

Accepted Answer

These are all common sayings or idioms that convey moral or philosophical messages.

Quiz 3: Myth and the Origin of the Humanities