LIT 229 Discussion 1

.docx

School

Southern New Hampshire University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

229

Subject

English

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by SargentTeam5375

LIT 229 Discussion 1  How do aspects of fairy tales differ from aspects of myths as discussed in the text?  How do you see archetypes applied in the modern world? Hi Class! I just wanted to say I am happy to be here and I wish everyone good luck in the next 8 weeks. When talking about either fairy tales or myths, they relate considering they are both stories. However, after reading this week’s material I could see how their aspects differ. The definition of a fairy tale, according to Collins (2024), is a story for children that involves magical events and imaginary creatures. They are fictional stories that not only are meant to entertain children but also allow them to connect to real life (Fairfax County, n.d.). As children, these stories help our imaginative thinking while allowing us to learn moral lessons from the characters. For instance, in Peter Pan , you have Captain Hook who is looked at as the bad guy. Due to his selfishness and the ways he treated others, we were able to learn that bad things come to those who act so negatively. This is like most other stories considering good things do not often come to “villains.” Moving on to myths, these stories have more meaning and are not considered entirely fictional. In our textbook, myths are stories whose purpose is not limited to entertainment (Thury & Devinney, 2016, p. 4). Different countries with different cultures each possess various myths that correlate with their cultural values to try and explain why things are the way they are, regardless of scientific explanations. Unlike fairy tales, myths are passed down from generation to generation and are important to cultures as they represent their heritage and the beliefs that follow. Myths are not developed for the sole purpose of children and are instead, meant to enhance understanding. While they may not be completely true because science indicates certain events as impossible, these stories help explain how the world was created and why certain things happen. In contrast to fairy tales that often include magical creatures and fantasies, myths tell of gods, heroes, and events that a group believes, or at one time believed, to be real (Britannica, 2024). Thury & Devinney (2016, p. 609-610) mention another aspect of myths to be archetypes which is a tendency to form mythological patterns or motifs. Archetypes are commonly developed by each person unconsciously, helping individuals to understand the human personality and to connect to a much broader realm (Thury & Devinney, 2016, p. 610). Two of the most popular archetypes in today’s world are heroes and villains. Because of myths, we associate heroes with being brave and noble individuals who help others while villains are seen as the opposite. Villains are mean and selfish and put others in harm’s way. In observing the personality traits of both archetypes, we develop an idea of what we want our personality to be and the actions we would take. An example would be a police officer and a criminal. A criminal is a person we see as a villain because they possess the same traits. However, police officers are those who arrive

at the scene of a crime to either bring a victim to safety or arrest the person so they can no longer put others in danger. Saving a person’s life is something heroes are known to do, so we classify them as a hero archetype. Because of archetypes, we can get in touch with our true selves since they represent what we seek to be, which in turn accesses true self-concept and leads to enhanced meaning in life (Shadraconis, 2013, p. 9). References Collins. (2024). Definition of ‘fairy tale’ . Retrieved March 6, 2024, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/fairy-tale#:~:text=A%20fairy%20tale %20is%20a,More%20Synonyms%20of%20fairy%20tale . Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. (2024). Mythology . Retrieved March 6, 2024, from https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/mythology/353513#:~:text=They%20are%20stories %20about%20how,time%20believed%2C%20to%20be%20real . Fairfax County. (n.d.). The Importance of Fairy Tales to Preschool Development . Retrieved March 6, 2024, from https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branch-out/importance-fairy-tales- preschool-development#:~:text=Fairy%20Tales%20Do%20More&text=Aid%20in%20emotional %20resilience%20by,anxieties%20in%20a%20fantastical%20setting . Shadraconis, S. (2013). Leaders and Heroes: Modern Day Archetypes. LUX: A Journal of Transdisciplinary Writing and Research from Claremont Graduate University, 3 (1), 9. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/lux/vol3/iss1/15 . Thury, E. M., & Devinney, M. K. (2016). Introduction to Mythology (4 th ed.). Oxford University Press Academic US. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780190263041

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help