Making Mythology (and other genres, too!)

Mythology operates in the realm between fantasy and reality, where the two world touch just enough to allow a sense of whimsy and yet adhere to some basic laws of existence. There is an element of infinite possibilities controlled by some supreme logic, either in the form of a godhead or an intelligent universe. Mythology also seeks to examine some of the essential questions of life: Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? What do we do while we are here? What happens when we leave?

When reading a myth, the reader accepts these rules as part of the “genre,” so to speak, and this provides a framework in which the amazing events where titans fight and worlds are destroyed exist without too much questioning or skepticism. In some cases, the framework is so effective that the mythologies become religious structures, and inform entire world views.

When writing a myth, however, the rules and structure become a burden and a guide. It is supremely difficult to identify an essential question and find a “workable” answer or justification. However, it is very easy to create a myth where no sense of “universal” or “ultimate” logic resides, and therefore following the typical themes and focuses of existing mythology is helpful. Writing a myth requires just as much brainstorming time as actual work time. In the end, we end up asking more questions about the potential myth than we actually ask in the myth.

However, this exercise in frustration and creation has taught me more about the purposes and goals of mythology than reading and analyzing myths in high school. I think, from my own teaching perspective, providing the students opportunities to create as well as study myths gives them a personal experience and attachment to mythology as a genre. And, as many teachers know, whenever you can connect academic content to a student’s experience the overall engagement is much, much higher.

Incidentally, creating a written product from an existing model works for many, many types of literary genres. Students can write myths, Gothic horror stories, sonnets, epic poems (within reason), plays . . . and the results are often incredible. Some of the best takes on Shakespeare I’ve ever seen have come from students I’ve observed over the past few years. My own students will definitely try their hand at writing some (new) classics.