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              Examples of Myths in The Alchemist

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              Examples of Myths in The Alchemist

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Page 149-
'"What do you want here today?' the desert asked him."
"'I heard what you were talking about the other day with the Alchemist,' the wind said."
"'The wind told me that you know about love,' the boy said to the sun."
The gods controlling nature. Santiago talks to the wind, sun, and desert in hopes to become the wind to prove the Chief wrong.

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Although there are creatures in the story, such as the two hawks, they do not become specific characters in the story. It is a myth because it talks about a superior being, a god.

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pg 94
"'Allah cures our illnesses' said the man, clearly frightened of the stranger."

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Myths in the Alchemist- The Emerald and the Miner

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Myths in the Alchemist- The Emerald and the Miner

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This myth from the alchemist is about how a miner abandoned everything to go mining for the emeralds. Pg 26 "For five years, he had been working on a certain river and examined hundreds of thousands of stones looking for the emerald. The miner was about to give it all up, right at the point when, if he had examined one more stone, he would have found his emerald. Since the miner had sacrificed everything to his Personal Legend, the old man decided to become involved. He transformed himself into a stone that rolled up to the miners foot. The miner, with all the anger and frustration of his five fruitless years, picked up the stone and threw it aside with such force that it broke the stone  it fell upon, and there, embedded in the broken stone, was the most beautiful emerald in the world."

The old man's purpose in appearing for Santiago is to show him that he should not give up on his dream.

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An Example of a Myth in The Alchemist - The Two Drops of Oil and The Spoon

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An Example of a Myth in The Alchemist - The Two Drops of Oil and The Spoon

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pgs 33-35:
"A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The boy finally came upon a beautiful castle, which was where the wise man lived, after wandering through the desert for forty days. The wise man told the boy to look around the castle while carrying a spoonful of oil without spilling it. However, the boy does not get to see the marvels of the castle because his eyes were fixed on the spoon. The wise man tells him to go back again and to actually enjoy the beauty of the castle. The boy ends up spilling the oil. The wise man tells the boy that the secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and to never forget the drops of oil on the spoon."

The point of this story is to find balance. When the boy first explored the castle with the spoonful of oil, he was so paranoid about spilling it that he didn't get to focus on the castle. During the second time, the boy made sure to pay attention to what was around him but ended up spilling the oil. This story is considered a myth because certain myths have morals, which are meant to teach (ex. the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice). In this case, the story's moral is to be able to pay attention to or enjoy whatever is going around you while not losing sight of your primary responsibilities.

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An Example of a Myth in The Alchemist - Narcissus

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An Example of a Myth in The Alchemist - Narcissus

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pgs 1-2:
"When Narcissus died, the goddesses of the forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears. The lake contemplated Narcissus' beauty before and now wept for him. It was by the banks of the lake that Narcissus knelt each day to contemplate himself. The lake said, 'I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected.'"

This story tells of the death Narcissus, who was known for his beauty in Greek Mythology. It's considered a myth because it has non-human characters (Narcissus, the goddess, and the talking lake).He was a narcissist; he always looked at his beauty through the reflection of the lake. The lake is a narcissist as well. It never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful because each time Narcissus knelt beside the banks, the lake could see that their own beauty reflected through his eyes. Additionally, the lake is a reflection of Narcissus' self-absorption.

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pg-80
"'Once you get into the desert, there's no going back,' said the camel drivers. 'And, when you can't go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward. The rest is up to Allah, including the dangers.'"

Example of "the god's" controlling nature. Allah is the Islam form of God and they believe that he is the creator and he controls stuff.

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Pg-10 "The boy was surprised at his thoughts. Maybe the church, sycamore growing from within, had been haunted." This quote explains that something unknown is going on and myths are created to explain the unknown.

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A myth is a literary genre

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1) myths tell us about our relationships with each other;
2) myths tell us about our relations with the natural world; and
3) myths tell us about our relationship with the cosmos, God or Gods.

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A myth is "a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events."

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Myths are created to explain the unknown world and weird phenomenons that happen, these can lead to religions such as greek mythology.

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Greek mythology was used as a means to explain the environment in which humankind lived in. They are connected to religion in the Greek world and it explains the origin and lives of god.

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Very often, it is false

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The real reason creation myths are near universal was given by the Scottish philosopher David Hume. Hume observed that without an idea of cause and effect, we would be utterly incapable of making sense of the world around us. At the foundation of nearly every culture is a creation myth that explains how the wonders of the earth came to be.

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And like dreams they create order and an extraordinary living truth about the culture that creates them. Myths give physical shape to human consciousness, experience, and belief. Myths tell us what's important to know and therefore are charged with a special seriousness.

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1. A story that is or was considered a true explanation of the natural world (and how it came to be).

2. Characters are often non-human – e.g. gods, goddesses, supernatural beings, first people.

3. Setting is a previous proto-world (somewhat like this one but also different).

4. Plot may involve interplay between worlds (this world and previous or original world).

5. Depicts events that bend or break natural laws (reflective of connection to previous world).

6.  Cosmogonic/metaphysical explanation of universe (formative of worldview).

7.  Functional: “Charter for social action” – conveys how to live: assumptions, values, core meanings of individuals, families, communities.

8. Evokes the presence of Mystery, the Unknown (has a “sacred” tinge).

9. Reflective and formative of basic structures (dualities: light/dark, good/bad, being/nothingness, raw/cooked, etc.) that we must reconcile. Dualities often mediated by characters in myths.

10. Common theme: language helps order the world (cosmos); thus includes many lists, names, etc.

11. Metaphoric, narrative consideration/explanation of “ontology” (study of being). Myths seek to answer, “Why are we here?” “Who are we?” “What is our purpose?” etc. – life’s fundamental questions.

12. Sometimes: the narrative aspect of a significant ritual (core narrative of most important religious practices of society; fundamentally connected to belief system; sometimes the source of rituals)

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Both myths and science offer explanations of the cosmos. A key difference is that information about the universe presented in myths is not testable, whereas science is designed to be tested repeatedly.

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- Greek Mythology
In Greek Mythology, Atlas attempted to lead the Titans in a battle against the Olympic gods for control of the heavens. In Zeus' anger over this plot, he punished Atlas, dooming him to hold the weight of the heavens on his back.

-Creation Mythology
The Inuit believed first there were giants. Two giants had a baby named Sedna, who became so large they could no longer feed her. Because of this, they threw her into the ocean, cutting off her fingers when she tried to cling to the kayak. Each finger became a sea creature. Sedna became a powerful spirit who controlled the sea and its animals.

-Roman Mythology: Cupid
Cupid was the god of love and desire. He was the son of Venus and usually depicted as a winged child carrying a bow and arrows. His arrows could either draw people together, or pull them apart.

This myth helps to explain why one person can be so intensely drawn to another and even why relationships don’t always work out the way you hoped and shows that myths didn’t only cover natural events but also day-to-day life.

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Mythology is a set of legends, stories, or beliefs, especially ones that illustrate a religious or cultural tradition. In many instances, myths are built around the lives of gods and goddesses. If humans were involved, they were usually larger than life with tremendous heroic prowess.

While we may have worked out most of nature's occurrences, thousands of years ago, that was not the case. Why did the rivers dry up? Why did healthy crops suddenly die? In nearly every civilization, this is when creation and nature myths began to emerge and some of the earth's natural phenomena were explained in a way that made sense to the people of that time.

Today, we can learn about our ancestors through the study of myths. We discover them through creation myths, animal myths, hero myths, and more. As the categories of myths abound, so do their symbolic meanings. Let's take a look at some examples of mythology.

Creation Mythology

Creation myths didn't necessarily emerge so civilizations could provide detailed accounts of their history. They were used as a means of understanding their current condition. How did they get there? Where did this all begin?

In many ways, it was easier for ancient civilizations to believe that the world was created by unseen gods, than face a series of unknown questions.

Here are some examples:

The Pueblo believed they began life underground, and were guided by a spirit to climb up through a hole into the Earth. Once there, they found suitable land where the gods taught them how to farm, build houses, and create communities.

The Inuit believed first there were giants. Two giants had a baby named Sedna, who became so large they could no longer feed her. Because of this, they threw her into the ocean, cutting off her fingers when she tried to cling to the kayak. Each finger became a sea creature. Sedna became a powerful spirit who controlled the sea and its animals.

In a Filipino myth the Children of the Limokon, the Limokon were powerful birds that could talk. On the banks of the Mayo River, they laid two eggs. These eggs became the first man and woman who married and had many children.

In southern Nigeria, the Ekoi believed there were two gods in the beginning: Obassi Osaw of the sky and Obassi Nsi of the land. Osaw created the first man and woman. Nsi taught them how to survive. When they died, Nsi took them down into the earth.

In Norse mythology, Odin, the father of all gods, and his brothers Vili and Ve slew the first giant Ymir and made the world out of his body and the first humans out of tree trunks.

In Papago mythology, First Born came to the world when it was only darkness and water and completed the creation of the world. After he prepared the earth, I'itoi (Elder Brother) was created, then Coyote and Buzzard, and together they finished the world, its people and creatures.

Death or Underworld Mythology

How did ancient people cope with death and dying? The idea of an afterlife could help rationalize its sometimes brutal occurrence and lives suddenly cut short. Myths around the world contain an "underworld," which could be good or bad and from which a lucky few returned, symbolizing rebirth as much as death.

Here are some examples:

In Norse mythology, Baldr was immune from harm, so the gods had fun throwing things at him. One day, trickster Loki gave the blind god Hodr mistletoe to throw at Baldr - the only thing that could hurt him - and he died. Baldr could return from death if everyone in the world cried for him. Only the giantess Thökk, actually Loki in disguise, refused to shed tears, so Baldr had to stay in the underworld.

In Aztec mythology, Quetzalcoatl created mankind in its current incarnation, "the Fifth Sun," by journeying to Mictlan, the underworld, and using his blood to give new life to the bones of those who had lived in the previous eras.

Ma'at was the Egyptian goddess who decided who would enter the underworld. When people died, their hearts were placed on one side of a scale. The other side of the scale held Ma'at's feather of truth. If their heart was heavier than the feather, they were sent to their "second death."

In Japanese mythology, the creator god Izanami dies giving birth to a fire god. Her husband Izanagi tries to save her from the underworld. Izanami had already eaten there which bound her to the underworld, but told him she would beg the gods to let her go. After waiting a long time, Izanagi lit a torch to go find her and when he saw her rotting body he fled and sealed the door to the underworld. Izanami then vowed to kill 1,000 people each day and Izanagi promised to create 1,500 to replace them.

Hades was ruler of the Greek underworld. Hades rarely left his kingdom but did not want to rule alone so he kidnapped Persephone to be his queen. Distraught, her mother Demeter, goddess of agriculture, let the crops die until Zeus intervened. Persephone was then destined to spend six months of the year with Hades and six months with Demeter.

Hero Mythology

Hero myths are, perhaps, the most entertaining of all forms of mythology. They don't necessarily explain any natural phenomenon or major life occurrence. They might, however, illustrate admirable human traits, such as valor or morality.

In these tales, a hero would be tasked with a lofty assignment. The gods would often step in, either to aid the hero or interfere and, thus, a myth was born.

Here are some examples:

The most famous hero is probably Hercules (Herakles in Greek). To pay for a crime he had to complete a set of heroic tasks. He also helped the Olympians arise victorious in their battle against the giants. He was the last mortal son of Zeus, but also the only mortal to become a god upon death.

Achilles also comes to us through Greek mythology. He was the son of a king and a nymph. When he was born, his mother wanted him to be immortal, so, she dipped him in the river Styx. However, she was holding him by his heel, mistakenly leaving one part of his body vulnerable. Achilles went on to command legions of men in the Trojan War. He died when a poisoned arrow struck that one part of his body which remained mortal.

Karna was the greatest Hindu warrior ever known. His martial arts were, indeed, epic, and he went on to conquer the entire world. He single-handedly carried out a military campaign, defeating every king in the world.

Beowulf was a Scandinavian hero, immortalized in a medieval poem, a brave warrior who fought and conquered the monsters that terrorized Denmark and Sweden. He not only depicted moral virtues, but also lived an adventure-filled life.

Perseus is another central character in Greek mythology. He was considered the greatest Greek hero, as on an epic journey he slayed Medusa and saved Andromeda from the sea monster.

Greek and Roman Mythology

The Greeks crafted entire anthologies of mythological tales and the Romans adopted many Greek myths into their own legends. These tales are still studied today and are the inspiration for numerous books and movies.

Here are some examples:

Romulus and Remus is one Roman legend not taken from the Greeks. The abandoned babies were rescued by a wolf before being taken in by a shepherd. The twins later wanted to build a city where they had been rescued but in an argument over it Romulus killed Remus. Romulus went on the found Rome, its senate, and the legions.

Aurora was a Roman goddess of dawn, equivalent to the Greek goddess Eos. Aurora tragically lost her son and each day, her sorrowful tears would become the morning dew.

In Greek mythology, Atlas attempted to lead the Titans in a battle against the Olympic gods for control of the heavens. In Zeus' anger over this plot, he punished Atlas, dooming him to hold the weight of the heavens on his back.

Zeus had two brothers, Poseidon and Hades. After defeating the Titans they divided the world between them, Zeus became ruler of the gods and lord of the sky. Poseidon ruled the seas and Hades became god of the underworld.

Apollo was a Greek god of many things, but especially truth and music. He was one of the few gods the Romans did not rename. In Roman mythology he was more associated with healing and wisdom.

Aphrodite was the Grecian goddess of beauty, love, and fertility. She contributed to starting the Trojan War by promising Paris the love of Helen of Troy. In Roman mythology, her counterpart was Venus.

Animal Mythology

In ancient tales, animals were often given special powers. Sometimes they communed between the gods and their people. Sometimes their symbolism was meant to inspire a people to greater achievements.

Here are some examples:

How the Bear Lost his Tail is a Native American tale about a deceitful fox and a vain bear, who liked to show off his long tail. One winter day, Fox told Bear to fish in a frozen section of the pond by dipping his tail in the water. After he did, Bear fell asleep and the water froze around his tail. When Fox woke him, Bear jumped up, and most of his tail came off.

The legend of the phoenix exists in many cultures, including Greek, Egyptian, and Indian mythology. Usually, the phoenix is depicted as a bright eagle or similar bird and associated with the rising sun. After a long life, when a phoenix senses its time is coming to an end, it builds a funeral pyre. When the old phoenix is consumed by the fire, a new one emerges.

In Australian Aboriginal mythology, The Kangaroo Gets a Pouch tells the tale of a kind momma kangaroo who saved both her son and a stray wombat from hunters. After the ordeal, the wombat told the momma kangaroo that he was the Father of all Creatures and he wanted to reward her goodness. He told her to place some bark on her stomach. Lo and behold, a pouch appeared. Now, she had a way of keeping her son, Joey, safe.

In Norse mythology Huginn and Muninn are a pair of ravens that serve Odin and are even considered an extension of him. They fly around the world and tell him everything they see, advise him, and accompany him into battle.

A Native American Seneca legend also attempted to explain why chipmunks have stripes. One day, a bear boasted to a chipmunk that he could do anything. The chipmunk asked him if he could stop the sun from rising. After the bear tried and failed, the chipmunk made fun of him. In anger, the bear pinned down the chipmunk with one paw. The chipmunk managed to squeeze free but with a new set of stripes made by the bear's claws.

Making Sense of the World

Indeed, life confounds every generation. One element of the human condition that never changes is our quest for knowledge. We want to know how we got here, what our purpose is, and how everything around us functions.

Although we can't explain everything, we've certainly come a long way from the days when angry gods had to be appeased. Yet, mythology served an important purpose for our ancestors. It helped them make sense of the world they lived in. We can all relate to that. And mythology continues to serve an important function today. It helps us better understand the rich culture of our innovative ancestors.

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Mythology is a set of legends, stories, or beliefs, especially ones that illustrate a religious or cultural tradition. In many instances, myths are built around the lives of gods and goddesses. If humans were involved, they were usually larger than life with tremendous heroic prowess.

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Myths were considered by Victorian scholars as survivals of previous times (perhaps decayed or reflective of "primitive" ancestors who took them literally). Some saw them as evidence for social evolutionary theories of the 19th century. These Victorians scholars (like E. B. Tylor) believed that humans in all cultures progress through stages of evolution from "savagery" to "barbarism" and finally to "civilization."

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They are often highly valued or disputed stories that still intrigue us even though many of us do not recognize them as a living genre in our culture.