Myth: The Power of Story

Myth: The Power of Story

Identity and Myths

• Myths shape how we see ourselves.

• As individuals

• And in society

• Our actions flow out of the identity we believe we have

• Myths are both origin story and guide to the future

Multiple Select

A myth is

• A nice tale

• An origin story

• A guide to the future

The Hero's Journey and Myth

Almost every myth follows the structure of the hero's journey because it provides a universal template for human growth, difficulty, responding to change and learning.

A whole nation can see themselves as part of a myth (The American West, Colonial ideas of civilization vs. savages, Israel's founding, Rome founding myth) and it draws them together and gives them a common purpose. They are the hero's in a journey together.

Open Ended

Why do myths follow the structure of the hero's journey?

Multiple Select

What do myths do

• Provide Meaning in their existence

• Link them to profound truth

• Give them shared symbols

• Draw them together as one people

• Create an entertaining lie

Open Ended

Why is it bad if a story only serves to impart a specific moral lesson? What is a better way to tell a story?

Multiple Choice

Myths can allow....

• men and women to live truly and full lives as men and women

• men and women to simply function as cogs in the machine of society

Multiple Choice

A myth is

• true

• false

• greater than either category

Open Ended

Tell a story in your life that follows these 8 steps: You — A character is in a zone of comfort, Need — But they want something. Go — They enter an unfamiliar situation, Search — Adapt to it, Find — Get what they wanted, Take — Pay a heavy price for it, Return — Then return to their familiar situation, Change — Having changed.

Open Ended

In what way is your identity related to the story you tell yourself and others? What motivates people to enter the unknown and chaos rather than stay in the comfort and familiarity of their lives?

Open Ended

What is it that creates resonance and fulfillment in a good story? What makes you go "Wow, that was really good?"