From Hercules to Harry Potter: What is Myth?

FROM HERCULES TO HARRY POTTER: Mythology in Film Summer, 2010 Nissa Hales

Table of Contents

• What is Myth?

• Myth and Truth • The Cauldron of Story • The Three Faces of Myth • Archetypes & The Hero’s Journey • Mythical Elements from…

• Harry Potter & the Goblet of • • • •

Fire Mulan The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings The Golden Compass Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

From Hercules to Harry Potter

WHAT IS MYTH?

WHAT IS MYTH? A traditional story about heroes or supernatural beings, often explaining the origins of a natural phenomena or aspects of human behavior (Dickerson & O’Hara).

Myths are…

WHO?: Constant among all humans in all times.

WHAT?: The “glue” that holds societies together; basis for morality, government, & national identity WHEN?: The thread that holds past, present, & future together.

WHY?: Essential ingredient in all codes of conduct; patterns of beliefs that give meaning to life.

(Bierlein, p. 5)

WHAT IS MYTH? (CONT.) Myth is part of a broader body of literature, with fantasy & fairy tales, called Fäerie Fay-ry - the realm of the Fay (a broad range of creatures, not just fairies: elves, dwarves, goblins, etc.)

(Tolkien).

Fairies, Goblins and Dwarfs by Howard David Johnson, 2007

What is Myth? (cont.)

Fäerie is a broad continuum, with myth on one side and fairy tales on the other, and heroic tales and fantasy falling somewhere in between (Dickerson & O’Hara, pp. 26 – 28).

Fäerie Geography Historical Scope Significance Character Type Meaning

Myth

Heroic Legend & Fantasy

Fairy Tales

What is Myth? (cont.)

F채erie

Myth

Heroic Legend & Fantasy

Fairy Tales

Geography

whole worlds or other worlds

a kingdom or realm

a single cottage, village, or wood

Historical Scope

timeless; may span centuries

Span a few months to a few years

in a mater of a few days

Significance

affect the whole history of the world

whole kingdoms are affected; large cast of characters

affects one to a handful of characters

Character Type

Gods

Heroes

Everyday people

Meaning

Endless re-readings; can be understood on many levels

Myth

Moral or easily grasped theme

Legend

Fairy Tale

From Hercules to Harry Potter

MYTH AND TRUTH Time Saving Truth from Falsehood and Envy by Franรงois Lemoyne, 1737

MYTH AND TRUTH

If you believe in fairies, clap your hands!

MYTH AND TRUTH (CONT.) “The truth of myth does not depend on history or language.

The truth of myth stands beyond history, enters history, and informs history.”

 Realistic fiction contains truth about

human nature, the nature of God or gods, love, or the absolute corrupting power of the one Ring.  Myth holds an objective truth that is

independent of any time, place, or culture.  The truth of myth or fairy tales is

through self recognition.  Myth reaches people in general;

universal and transcends culture.  Myth is how we comprehend our

own experience.

(Bierlein, p. 5; Dickerson & O’Hara, pp. 35 – 36; Neal, pp. 14 - 15) Harry Potter – The Mirror of Erised, Mary GrandPre

From Hercules to Harry Potter

THE CAULDRON OF STORY

The Cauldron of Story (Tolkien) Story is a soup containing bones Soup = story Bones = “its sources and material” Ladle = author Cauldron = massive kettle containing all of Story ever been told

al e T ry i a F

Ingredients = history, myths, legends, fairy tales The pot has “always been boiling, and to it have continually been added new bits,” savory or unsavory Hi nd se Legtory

Author serves up their story

From Hercules to Harry Potter

THE THREE FACES OF MYTH AND FÄERIE

THREE FACES OF MYTH AND FÄERIE (TOLKIEN) Three elements of reality: natural, supernatural, and man (Dickerson & O’Hara, p. 42)

1.Mythical toward the supernatural 1. A world of angels & demons & a supreme being 2. Fairy tales depend on the supernatural 3. Supernatural remain in the background 4. Viewed with a sense of mystery & awe

THREE FACES OF MYTH AND FÄERIE (TOLKIEN) 2.

Magical toward Nature (Dickerson & O’Hara, p. 43)

 Most important in the

definition of myth  Nature is magical (Trees can move, speak, defend themselves, get angry)  Does not deny science but it does deny that science is the only way to understand nature

Treebeard and the Hobbits by Per Sjogren, 2003

THREE FACES OF MYTH AND FÄERIE (TOLKIEN) 3.

The mirror of scorn and pity (mercy) towards man

(Dickerson & O’Hara,

pp. 48 – 49)



Sorrow & the desire to see restoration (e.g., Gandalf to Frodo re: Gollum, “It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand.”)



We pity ourselves as a race



We pity ourselves as individuals



We feel regret and remorse for our own actions



We feel sympathy for the perpetrators as well as the victims



We hope for redemption & justice (e.g., Frodo must hope Gollum can be Smeagol; Luke must have faith Vader can be Anakin again)

References Bierlein, J. F. (1994). Parallel myths. New York: Ballantine Books.

Campbell, J. (2008). The hero with a thousand faces. Novato, Ca.: New World Library. Bollingen Series XVII, 3rd ed.

Davis, Bryan M. (1997). The Archetypal Hero in Literature, Religion, Movies, and Popular Culture. Retrieved 7/29/10 from http://www.tatsbox.com/hero Davis, K. C. (2005). Don’t know much about world myths. New York: Harper Collins.

Dickerson, M. & O’Hara, D. (2006). From Homer to Harry Potter: A handbook on myth and fantasy. Grand Rapids, MN: Brazos.

Dirk, T. (2010). Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977). Retrieved on 8/13/10 from http://www.filmsite.org/starw.html.

References (cont.)

Greydanus, S. D. (2010). Why Star Wars still matters. Retrieved 8/12/10 from www.decentfilms.com/articles/starwars.html. harrypotter.wikia.com hdm.wikia.com Myth encyclopedia: Myths and legends of the world. Animals in mythology. Retrieved on 8/12/10 from www.mythencyclopedia.com/Am-Ar/Animals-inMythology.html. Advameg.

Neal, C. (2007). Wizards, wardrobes and wookies: Navigating good and evil in Harry Potter, Narnia and Star Wars. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

REFERENCES (CONT.)

Owens, K. (2009) Draconika Dragons. Retrieved 8/8/10 from www.

Draconika.com/index.

Reihla (2004). The way of the Jedi: A comparison of the Jedi order to the Japanese Samurai. Retrieved on 8/15/10 from www.sagajournal.com/rwayofjedi.html.

Smith, E.L., & Brown, N. R. (2007). The complete idiot’s guide to world mythology:Timeless tales and legends from every corner of the globe.

New York: Alpha.

Star Wars:The Legacy Revealed. Dir. Kevin Burns. 2007. The History Channel.

Videocassette Tolkien, J. R. R. (1989). “On fairy-story.” Tree and leaf. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, p. 9-73.

Warren, L., et al. (2000). The hero’s journey. Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction: Maricopa Community Colleges. Retrieved 7/29/10 fromhttp://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/smc/journey/main.html.

Original Artwork !!! Myth Takes. 2008. !!! Warp, Web. 13 Aug. 2010. <http://pitchfork.com/ reviews/albums/9956-myth-takes/>. (Cover Artist unknown) Fairies, Goblins and Dwarfs by Howard David Johnson, 2007 Game Wallpapers. com.The Golden Compass. 2007. Wallpapers-s.oorg. Shiny Entertainment. Web. 13 Aug. 2010. </http://wallpaper-s.org/ 18__The_Golden_Compass,_2007.htm>.

The Legend of Susanuo by Howard David Johnson The Lightning Thief (book jacket) by John Rocco, 2008.

Meditation by Kuro Samarai. http://artzone.daz3d.com/index.php?/gallery/user/vi/&mid= 134537&aid=32859 Harry Potter – The Mirror of Erised, Mary GrandPre Time Saving Truth from Falsehood and Envy by François Lemoyne, 1737 Treebeard and the Hobbits by Per Sjogren, 2003 Every effort was made to provide information for every image used in this presentation.

Photos from Movies: Beowulf. Dir. Robert Zemeckis. 2007, Paramount Pictures. Warner Home Video, 2008.

DVD. The Golden Compass. Dir. Chris Weitz. 2007. New Line Cinema.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Dir. Christopher Columbus. 2002. Warner

Bros. , 2003. DVD. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Dir. David Yates. 2010. Warner

Bros.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Dir. Mike Newell. 2005. Warner

Bros. , 2006. DVD. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Dir. David Yates. 2009. Warner

Bros. , 2009. DVD. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Dir. David Yates. 2007. Warner

Bros. , 2007. DVD. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Dir. Alfonso Cuaron 2004. Warner

Bros. , 2004 DVD. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Dir. Christopher Columbus. 2001. Warner

Bros. , 2002. DVD. Hero. Dir. Yimou Zhang. 2002. Miramax, 2004. DVD.

PHOTOS FROM MOVIES (CONT.)

The Last Samurai. Dir. Edward Zwick. 2003 Warner Bros. 2004, DVD. Lord of the Rings:The Fellowship of the Ring. Dir. Peter Jackson. 2001.

New Line Cinema.

Mulan. Dirs. Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook. 1998. Buena Vista.

Star Wars Episode II:The Attack of the Clones. Dir. George Lucas. 2002 Lucasfilms.

Star Wars Episode V:The Empire Strikes Back. Dir. Irving Kershner. 1980.

Lucasfilms.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Dir. George Lucas. 1977. Lucasfilms.

Star Wars Episode I:The Phantom Menace. Dir. George Lucas. 1999.

Lucasfilms.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Dir. Richard Marquand. 1983.

Lucasfilms.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Dir. George Lucas. 2005. Lucasfilms.

All images were located using Google images search. Credit was provided when available.