Myth in Human History
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Myth in Human History
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Narrated by:
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Grant L. Voth
About this listen
Myths provide the keys to truly grasping the ways that principles, rituals, codes, and taboos are woven into the fabric of a particular society or civilization.
It's through myths that we can answer these and other fundamental questions: How was the universe created, and why? What is the purpose of evil? Why is society organized the way it is? How did natural features like rivers, mountains, and oceans emerge?This entertaining and illuminating course plunges you into the world's greatest myths. Taking you from ancient Greece and Japan to North America and Africa to New Zealand and Great Britain, these 36 lectures reveal mythology's profound importance in shaping nearly every aspect of culture. You'll also discover the hidden connections between them - a comparative approach that emphasizes the universality of myths across cultures.
Along with the stories themselves, you'll encounter fascinating characters, including Herakles, the ancient Greek hero whose life illustrates the idea that all heroic stories have a similar structure; Loki, the shape-shifting trickster who introduces the concept of time into the Norse realm of Asgard; and King Arthur, the Celtic lord and founder of the Knights of the Round Table.
Myths, according to Professor Voth, are "gifts from the ancestors to be cherished." His enchanting lectures are the perfect way for you to celebrate these cherished gifts, inviting you to develop your own interpretations of these age-old tales, as well as to ponder the role that myths - both ancient and everyday - play in your own life.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
©2010 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2010 The Great CoursesListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Myth in Human History
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Saralexis
- 18-12-23
Very interesting and entertaining
This is an intelligent and insightful look at both individual myths and mythology as a historical and psychological phenomenon.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- K. Reid
- 01-10-21
Stunning course
A compelling and likeable professor who delivers a grand and insightful tour of world mythology. Deserves repeat listening. This gives you the stories but also some tools for how to think about them, compare them and interpret them. One of the BEST Great Courses I have listened to and I have listened to a lot.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Exidia
- 28-09-14
Really easy way to learn!
What did you like best about this story?
It's not a story, but a series of lectures about how humans have used myths to explain things they couldn't understand. You have to engage brain in order to appreciate it, but it is well worth the effort.
What about Professor Grant L. Voth’s performance did you like?
He has a lively style and is a good, listenable lecturer.
Any additional comments?
The only reason it didn't get full marks was that the man who introduces each lecture shouts in the most annoying way!!
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Finn
- 16-06-18
A broad array of myths with provocative analysis
The course achieves a good balance of myth-telling with analysis of those myths. Myths are taken from a generous range of cultures, grouped by theme rather than origin. This is important, as it allows common motifs to be identified across stories of different origin, establishing patterns and typical narrative frameworks.
The lecturer is engaging and fluid: the myths are told warmly, and their significance well-emphasised.
Overall, the course allows an insight into something more than the history of different cultures. It is a window into the minds of the people who held those myths as sacred - how they viewed the world, where they thought their place in it was, and what they valued.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- maz
- 19-10-19
Highly recommended
A great insight into the world of mythology. Great analysis of why we have myths and the theories behind them. Grant L . Both was a joy to listen to with an abundance of information.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 28-04-21
Fantastic and insightful
This was absolutely fantastic and I found it very informative and inspiring. Grant L. Voth does a great job of explaining the different elements of myth and how they relate back to both the culture as well as other myths found in others. His voice was perfect as there is clear interest and enthusiasm heard within it. No dry, or monotonous tones here. absolutely recommend if you have an interest in mythology or cultural beliefs.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- mr
- 02-06-14
Not great
A subject that is very interesting, made boring. The stories are great and should be left to speak for them selves, less repition, more variety.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Diogenes
- 25-06-17
A very knowledgeable and enthusiastic lecturer who might be able to structure this better.
The thematic structure makes this course unnecessarily complex and difficult to follow.
I would have preferred it if the course covered all of the themes upfront and in detail and then when through each set of myths or cultures as a collective. This would give the listener more time to become familiar with the characters and more cultural specific elements of each myth or set of myths. Of course while going through each "set" of myths by region or culture the lecturer could make reference to the themes (or analytical tools) referred to at the beginning.
Unfortunately of the 25 or so Great Courses that I have completely (several more than once) this is the most difficult to follow, not because of its content, but because of its structure.
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3 people found this helpful