Eliade Study Questions
Write brief answers to each of these, based on Eliade's essay:
- According to Eliade's concept of myth, is a myth defined as a false story?
- For a people who take their myths seriously, what functions do myths
perform within their worldview? (Mention several functions. There
are many.)
- What is the difference between a myth and a fable, in a culture that takes
myth seriously?
- What kinds of beings appear in the cast of characters that play central
roles in myths?
- If you were a typical participant in a prescientific culture that owned
the stories making up a particular mythology, and you were asked how long ago
those stories took place, what sort of answer would you probably give,
according to the text?