Like many mythical heroes, we have passed through several trials and challenges in this course and hopefully gained revelations and possible transformations. But there is one more trial–the final exam. Your exam and last essay are wrapped up in one. Its aim is to pull together your best writing skills with all your understanding of myth.
One of mythology’s purposes is to provide wisdom and guidance for our lives, inclusive of our inevitable crises and triumphs. Thus, myths can prompt important self-exploration and serve as compasses for our own human adventures, heroic or subtle. -Dr. Michael Delahoyde
Assignment: Every myth we have read reveals something to us about what it means to be human. Choose three stories from the list below and explain what each has to say about the human condition. How does each story reveal “humanness”? What wisdom can each offer us? In your conclusion, discuss which of the three stories is most illuminating or comes closest to your own view of humanity and why. Choose three myths from these which we studied:
Theseus & the Minotaur
Prometheus
Pandora
the Ramayana
Oedipus Rex
Orpheus & Eurydice
Demeter & Persephone
Heracles
Genesis creation chapters 1-3
Hopi creation
Gilgamesh
Essay length: minimum of 5 paragraphs, but more may be necessary
A good pattern would be:
Par. 1 Introductory paragraph that draws the reader in and leads to a clear thesis statement.
Par. 2-4 Each paragraph devoted to a separate story, addressing issues raised in the prompt above, and including specific discussion of the story to support your assertions.
Par 5 Concluding paragraph, discussing which of the three stories is most illuminating or comes closest to your own view of humanity and why. Avoid the all-too-frequent “In conclusion…” and especially avoid the even-more-frequent summary of everything you just said.
Strong essays will avoid simple plot summary and delve more into analysis. Avoid “cutesy” and shallow responses, like “I learned from the myth of Icarus that we shouldn’t be too ambitious and fly too close to the sun.” Did you really learn this from the Icarus myth, or did you already know it?
There is no need for a Works Cited page since your only source for this exam should be the textbook. You do not need to use quotations in your essay, but if you do, use them sparingly. If you quote, document your source by placing the author’s last name and page number in parentheses at the end of the quotation. For example, (Thury 368). The chief author of our textbook is Eva M. Thury.
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Characteristics of an A paper
Has an INTRODUCTION that is well-developed, leading smoothly to thesis
THESIS clearly and effectively indicates your focus
Is WELL-DEVELOPED, with ideas fully explained and supported with details/examples
Is WELL-ORGANIZED in a way that makes the ideas easy to follow
Provides EVIDENCE from the myths to support your ideas; Includes ANALYSIS
LANGUAGE is appropriate and sophisticated, using a rich vocabulary
FLOWS smoothly, with effective transitions and varied sentence structures
If QUOTATIONS are used, they are woven effectively into student’s own writing, without overusing quotes
Has a CONCLUSION that avoids simple summary and that says something substantive
Is written in COMPLETE SENTENCES, without run-ons and fragments
Has been PROOFREAD carefully to eliminate errors
