The Function of Myth
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This 7 page paper discusses the role of myth within a good story: Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Aurel. The importance of archetypal image is discussed, as well as the perception that writing is the key to human consciousness as shown in Walter Ong's Orality and Literacy: The Technologicalizing of the Word. Bibliographylists 4 sources.
Filename: BBmyth.doc

Native Indian Mythology
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11 pages in length. A comprehensive overview of themes in Native Indian mythology. Examined are various mythological objects, the value of dreams, and more. It is emphasized that different tribes each had their own brand of myth -- Analyzed in specific detail are the myths of the Aztecs who, in their stories, formulated an entire structure for their universe. Their myths and the key characters featured in them are explicated. Bibliography lists 9 sources.
Filename: Natindmy.wps

Mystery Cults and the Pre-Christian Notion of God
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8 pages in length. An insightful look at Mystery Cults-- groups that pre-date Christianity and yet who believed in the 'mysteriousness' of God -- found later on in sections of The Bible (it is noted that God speaks extensively early on in Genesis and then less and less as 'mysteriousness' becomes important). The history & origin (dating back to Ancient Greece) of Mystery Cults is examined as are various myths and the relevance of Judaism and even Oriental mysteries. It is essentially concluded that many primary tenets of the Christian religion actually pre-date Christianity. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Filename: Mystcult.wps

"The Romance of Arthur"
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A 10 page paper which discusses the strengths and weaknesses of several essays which are to be found in "The Romance of Arthur: An Anthology of Medieval Texts in Translation" by James J. Wilhelm. The essays discussed are "Arthur in the Latin Chronicles" by James J. Wilhelm, "Arthur in the Early Welsh Tradition" by John K. Bollard, "Culhwch and Olwen" by Richard M. Loomis, and "Arthur in Geoffrey of Monmouth" by Richard M. Loomis. These papers stand to have far more strengths than weaknesses in that they truly present the reader with an in-depth knowledge of who Arthur may well have been, and where much of his myth originated. No additional sources cited.
Filename: RAarthur.wps

"What Dreams May Come": Mythical Component
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6 pages in length. The writer discusses the mythical element of the movie "What Dreams May Come," as well as associates such with Freud and ancient mythology. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: TLCdreem.wps

A Comparison Between the Flood in Genesis and the Flood in the Epic of Gilgamesh
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A five page paper which looks at the similarities between the legend of the Flood as described in the Christian Bible, and the Flood of Ut-napishtim in Mesopotamian myth, with reference to research which asserts that both legends may have arisen from a local event in the valley of the Euphrates. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: JLfloods.wps

Addressing Issues In Mythology
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12 pages in length. The writer discusses three elements of mythology: comparing two stories; treatment of women; and the tragic hero as a popular literary motif. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Filename: TLCmytho.wps

Advancement in Knowledge or in Foolishness?
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This 5 page report discusses the idea that humanity has advanced over the past 500 years, if one considers the issue purely from the point of technological advancement. However, knowledge can and should be seen as a constant balancing act between creative and a ruinous processes. Perhaps humanity has not developed in a way that is ultimately beneficial. The thesis presented in this paper is that “progress” is a relative term and concept. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: BWfool.wps

African and Greek Mythology / The Creation Gods
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An 8 page research paper exploring the different gods identified as being the creator or as the supreme god in African mythology as compared and contrasted to the Greek god Zeus. The genealogy of Zeus is described along with his powers and place in mythology. Each tribe or ethnic region in Africa had their own supreme god, each having a different stature and different degree of power over the universe. Some had powers over similar arenas as Zeus, others were quite different. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: Afgrmyth.wps

Anzia Yezierska: The Bread Givers.(1975)
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(6 pp) Anzia Yezierska's novel Bread Givers(1975) is an extensive observation of relationships in an immigrant family of early 20th century America. All the characters fight their own battles to find in their place between the New Worlds struggles, and the Old World's history. The clash is epitomized in the relationship between Sara Smolinksy and her father. Her mother says, of her daughter's strong will, 'when she begins to want a thing, there is no rest, no let-up till she gets it.' Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: BByerska.rtf

Boston + Brahmin = White Anglo Saxon Protestant
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(5 pp) The term "Boston Brahmin" is associated with -- among other things -- the American premiere of Brahms' Second Symphony. It was performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the historic Orpheum Theatre built in 1852, on Hamilton Place off Tremont Street. Many in the audience walked out, and music reviewers called those who stayed "Brahmins." Oliver Wendell Holmes called Boston "The Hub of the Universe." Some of the so-called "Boston Brahmins" referred to the city as "The Athens of America." Those are some notes of the past concerning the Brahmins, but where are they now? Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: BBbosbra.doc

Chupacabras: Clearly Fictional Creatures
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7 pages in length. Fantastic creatures have existed throughout time as the direct result of man's overactive imagination. From the Loch Ness Monster to Bigfoot, history has never had a shortage of wholly unaccountable, bizarre living things and the people who have sighted them. The fervor and hype surrounding one particularly intriguing creature named Chupacabras was especially noted during the last decade of the twentieth century, with its telltale legacy of leaving behind blood-sucked animal carcasses a recurring find in Puerto Rico. Indeed, arguments are strong from both sides -- with believers surmising the short, red-eyed reptilian-like attacker to be an alien, mutant or, worse yet, a secret government experiment gone awry -- but the lack of any more convincing evidence beyond visual sightings does not establish much credibility to its existence, leaving only one possible theory: Chupacabras is wholly fictional. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: TLCChupa.rtf

Classical, Celtic, Norse and Chinese Mythologies
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This 20 page paper provides an overview of the central features of Classical, Celtic, Norse and Chinese Mythologies. This paper also outlines a comparison of some central components. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: MHMythCom.rtf

Comic Books / Modern Mythology or Escapism ?
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This 6 page paper examines the comic book genre to determine if contemporary comic books are representative of modern mythology or are merely pure escapism. Bibliography includes 6 sources.
Filename: Comicb.wps

Comparing and Contrasting Zeus and Odin:
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This 7 page paper compares and contrasts the Greek God Zeus to his Norse counterpart Odin. This paper argues that the striking similarities between these two mythological gods illustrates how influenced the Norse culture was by the Greek culture. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: GSGreekg.rtf

Egyptian Journey to the Afterlife
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A 15 page discussion of the critical components of the ancient Egyptian's belief in an afterlife. Notes that much of our contemporary knowledge regarding ancient Egyptian culture is based on archaeological findings. Among the most interesting of these findings are those which relate to the elaborate worship rituals of the Egyptians, rituals which to a large degree were comprised of those relating to death and the afterlife. Provides an overview of Egyptian belief, preparation for the afterlife, mummification, the preparation of the body, rituals instructing the dead, the tombs, and ceremonies. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Filename: PPegyDth.wps

Ernst Cassirer: Language & Myth (1946)
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(5 pp) Philosophers are always asking themselves questions. What a philosopher is trying to do, is figure out the way in which people understand the world, or their sense and place of reality in the world. The German philosopher, Ernst Cassirer (1874- 1945) felt that we use mentally created symbols to understand our current reality. It was Cassirer's idea that scientific laws, theories of religion and the unique qualities of a given language were all symbols, which we as humans create to facilitate understanding the world. The logic of understanding then is to give some sense of order in the chaos of the world that we face on a daily basis.
Filename: BBcassir.doc