Who sets the rules for myths?

Question

what makes a myth a myth? Did it just consequently happen to everyone or what is the deal...it can't be true for one person therefore it is true for all...

Answer 1

A myth is a story containing within and having about it certain identifiable characteristics. These are, specifically, that:

* It is a religious story — no matter from which culture — and will therefore involve the existence and activities of a supernatural being, such as a god, a demigod, a goddess, or several such entities;
* It will seek to explain at least some aspect of the origin or manner of things (where people came from, how rainbows first came to be, why whales have blow spouts, why people and animals feel hunger) if not of the very universe itself;
* It is not an isolated tale but connects up in some significant way with other similar stories within a culture, involving other deities who collectively form a pantheon;
* Its authorship is communally shared, that is, attributable to no single person, and it came into existence through oral tradition, and therefore usually has more than one version;
* It is believed to be essentially true by those in the society for whom it is one part of a cultural mythology.

A story will have all of the above characteristics else it cannot properly be classified as a myth, but may be a legend or a folktale.

Answer 2

I think that any kind of literature, explanation, theory or creature that is not considered part of the 'normal' mindset of modern society is deemed as mythology.

The person who made the statement on Greek mythology is correct. It is literally the polytheistic religion and Ancient Greece.

The standards and qualifications that cause something to be marked as mythology would have slight variables from culture to culture, but would generally fit the same parameters.

1) Not generally a widely accepted explanation of events or circumstances. Or perhaps the explanation has been disproved by other methods of investigation.

2) Not something that is taken seriously by the bulk of said society.

3) Too many plot holes that don't match the eventual turn out.

4) Too much interaction or reference to things or places that are not able to be experienced on a level of physical interaction...

Answer 3

Myths probably started as fire side tales among tribal peoples from the distant past and as time went on they were embellished and changed for the times until you get to the era in history where the people begin to realize that they were just stories not the literal truth and thus become myths and legends.

Answer 4

According to my beliefs and personal convictions, I would say myths are merely truth-based stories that eventually become legend or fable with word of mouth. However, Ancient societies were no fools. Truth is often stranger than fiction and you will find that strangely, many myths can be tracked back to antediluvian adventures or archaic culture-heroes.

Answer 5

Good question...my 2cents; I read that at one time Greek Mythology was not mythology. It was actually the religion of long ago Greece. Perhaps in time, as the world wound down and became less fabulous, this religion became harder and harder to believe, and so culture eventually agreed to relegate the whole matter to mythology.

So, apparently, time _and_ people turn 'facts', concepts--and perhaps some religions--into mythology.

Answer 6

the urban god