Mythology
Angelica Bernardez
Ms. Wilde
English 9 Honors
Period 2
5 November, 2014
Purpose of Mythology
“We aren’t in an information age, we are in an entertainment age.”-Tony Robbins. The EGUSD school board wants to get rid of “Mythology” By Edith Hamilton claiming that the myths are “pointless” because no one believes them anymore; however mythology is very important to our English 9 Honors curriculum! The myths provide entertainment to us, students. Three myths that show entertainment are: Odysseus’ adventure to Circe’s realm, The Trojan Horse, and Twelve Labors of Hercules. It is clear that Mythology in fact is not pointless, yet it’s purpose is to entertain us. Odysseus' adventure to Circe’s realm is a perfect myth that shows entertainment. After the Trojan war Odysseus and his crew docked on an island not knowing it was the home of Circe, a magical sorceress. Circe then took some of Odysseus’ men and turned them into pigs. She was known for turning men into beast. Hermes then came along and gave a herb to Odysseus to resist Circe’s magic and it worked! Circe then falls in love with Odysseus following his order to free his men. Hamilton states in the myth “…Odysseus dispatched to spy out the land, and there she changed them into swine… yet inside they were men aware of their vile state, but completely in her power. (307)” “He [Hermes] told Odysseus he knew of a herb which could save him from Circe’s deadly art.” As a result, this myth shows entertainment because it has humor, like when Odysseus’ men are turned to pigs. It also has a happy ending, and who doesn’t love happy endings? Likewise The Trojan Horse also provides evidence of entertainment. Instead of using bronze Odysseus used brains. He wanted the trojans to draw the horse into the city so that at night his army could go inside and open the gates to the city so that all of troy would be executes. The trojan horse was described to be huge as written: “In front of the Scan Gates stood an enormous
Ms. Wilde
English 9 Honors
Period 2
5 November, 2014
Purpose of Mythology
“We aren’t in an information age, we are in an entertainment age.”-Tony Robbins. The EGUSD school board wants to get rid of “Mythology” By Edith Hamilton claiming that the myths are “pointless” because no one believes them anymore; however mythology is very important to our English 9 Honors curriculum! The myths provide entertainment to us, students. Three myths that show entertainment are: Odysseus’ adventure to Circe’s realm, The Trojan Horse, and Twelve Labors of Hercules. It is clear that Mythology in fact is not pointless, yet it’s purpose is to entertain us. Odysseus' adventure to Circe’s realm is a perfect myth that shows entertainment. After the Trojan war Odysseus and his crew docked on an island not knowing it was the home of Circe, a magical sorceress. Circe then took some of Odysseus’ men and turned them into pigs. She was known for turning men into beast. Hermes then came along and gave a herb to Odysseus to resist Circe’s magic and it worked! Circe then falls in love with Odysseus following his order to free his men. Hamilton states in the myth “…Odysseus dispatched to spy out the land, and there she changed them into swine… yet inside they were men aware of their vile state, but completely in her power. (307)” “He [Hermes] told Odysseus he knew of a herb which could save him from Circe’s deadly art.” As a result, this myth shows entertainment because it has humor, like when Odysseus’ men are turned to pigs. It also has a happy ending, and who doesn’t love happy endings? Likewise The Trojan Horse also provides evidence of entertainment. Instead of using bronze Odysseus used brains. He wanted the trojans to draw the horse into the city so that at night his army could go inside and open the gates to the city so that all of troy would be executes. The trojan horse was described to be huge as written: “In front of the Scan Gates stood an enormous