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Greek Mythology – am I missing something?
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I have been reading my way through the book A Charlotte Mason Companion, and the chapter on Greek Myth has me a little confused. It says that the stories are not all true, but the meaning of them is true, and true forever, and that is: “Do right, and God will help you.” {page 212 in case you are curious}
I picked up the D’Aulaires Book of Greek Mythology at a used curriculum fair, and I must say that I do NOT find the above meaning in the stories I am reading in this book at all.
Am I missing something here? While I personally feel my daughter would not want to hear any of these stories at this point in time, I would like to better understand the role it is supposed to play in a CM education.
I can’t answer your question, but will let you know that we pretty much skip the myths. It’s not that I’m opposed to fantasy, but I don’t find them particularly interesting and neither do my kids.
Here is a blog post I did on this:
http://lettersfromnebby.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/why-when-and-how-to-study-ancients
The short answer is that myths are often referenced in our culture and it is good to know them and that they show us truths about human nature (often in the actions of the gods!). I don’t agree with the quote you cite so much but I do think they give us insight. My kids have never been confused by them. If anything it had shown them even more how silly polytheism is.
Nebby
I second what Nebby said above. I, too, can’t agree with Andreola’s particular interpretation, however, there are universal laws – Nature’s Law if you will – that is there because G-D made it into the Creation and even pagans got it in the past. Aesop’s Fables are a prime example of this higher law that G-D placed into His Creation. There are moral teachings within the myths, as well as other writings from pagan authors to be studied later, that are quite compatible with the teachings of G-D-since He’s the one who created those moral laws in the first place. Not to mention values of courage and sacrifice, etc., that are also universally admired, especially since the introduction of monotheism by Abraham.
C.S. Lewis spoke and wrote about it in Mere Christianity and it’s what T. Jefferson was referencing as well in our Declaration.
I think it’s vitally important for our children to know the myths; of course all in their proper time. Frankly, much of the Bible can’t be understand without an understanding of the ancient myths of the peoples then. If I had a child who began obsessing adn spending too much time reading them, then I’d be worried (I ahve an actual pagan relative, so I’m sensitive to that sort of thing).
I didn’t teach a whole lot prior to age 9/10. The ones they were introduced to first during their lower elementary years were: Aesop’s Fables, James Baldwin’s Fifty Famous Stories Retold, Thirty More Famous Stories Retold.
We did American History up till 4th and 5th gr., so we didn’t delve into the ancients and their myths beyond the books I mentioned above and any info. that was necessary to understand our BIble studies better.
HTH
I will just add in here that when I asked my college girls what were a few of the things they thought helped them most for AP- and IB-level courses as well as university classes, they both said that knowing mythology gave them deeper understanding and insights when discussing literature and as well as subtle references/meanings in other classes too that were completely lost on their peers. I was surprised, but found that very interesting.
And it wasn’t like we spent tons of time on mythology — probably did D’Aulaire’s Greek Myths in lower- or mid-elementary, and I know Bulfinch’s Age of Fable in probably 4th-5th(ish)…. Maybe Tanglewood Tales or something somwhere too. And of course they were reading oodles of classic literature so I’m sure some of that was reinforced that way through references and such.
Agreeing with MLiP’s daughters. It is a part of what was once common knowledge and the stories were used through both the mortals and the gods what vices could do. There are so many common references in other good literature that if you don’t have any knowledge of mythology, the full meaning of parts is lost. In a very few cases, the whole point of a chapter may seem questionable without it. For instance, Shakespeare used mythological references, as well as some of the writings of the founders, Dickens, Alcott, etc. There are bits of mythology depicted on architecture, in famous paintings, and carvings as well.
While you know your family’s sensibilities, and I would never suggest that you should go against what you find morally objectionable, somethings will be lost to your children without a passing aquaintance with mythology. I do not, however, think there would be any reason why you couldn’t wait, if age/ child’s sensibilities would be an issue.
I agree with MLiP and Blue J. Your understanding and appreciation of many things is enhanced by knowing who/what is in mythology. I just bought this book at our local library book sale. Even though we are reading the actual stories, I think that it will be a great reference guide as we are studying literature and other subjects in the future because it includes many different areas and their stories/heroes. There are brief charts and identification charts for how the Greek myths tie together in their relationships, which is so helpful sometimes. =)
My kids keeping pointing out that all these “new ideas” in movies and books are actually recycled mythological stories and variations of mythological characters – it is fun to see them making these connections!
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