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Literary Terms in Mythology
Literary Terms
26
English
Not Applicable
08/17/2009

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Term
Allegory
Definition
When a methaphor or symbol is broken down into its component parts
Term
Anthropomorphic
Definition
Ascribing human form or attributes to a being or thing not human, especially to a deity
Term
Apotropaic
Definition
Intended to ward off or turn away evil
Term
Atheism
Definition
The belief in one god
Term
Autochthonous
Definition
(pronounced "auto-thon-ic) aboriginal; indigenous; native to a particular place.Sometimes these original inhabitants were thought to have b een born directly from the earth.
Term
Chthonic
Definition
(pronounced "thon'-ic") pertaining to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under the earth [Greek, khthonios, under the earth, khthon, the earth]
Term
Cosmogony
Definition
A theory or story of the genesis and development of the universe or the solar system. Thus, creation myths are in The World of Myth termed cosmogonies.
Term
Cosmology
Definition
Similar to cosmogony, but with less emphasis on creation or origins and more on the study of how the universe works now.
Term
Ennead
Definition
(pronounced "en-e-ad') a group of nine person or things [Greek, ennead, nine]
Term
Eponymous
Definition
Giving one's name to a tribe, place, etc.
Term
Etiology(Aetiology)
Definition
The study of causes, causation, or reasons for being. In mythology, an etiological myth explains a natural occurring phenomena in supernatural terms.
Term
Etymology
Definition
The study of word origins and derivation
Term
Folklore
Definition
A body of traditional belief, custom, and expression, handed down largely by word of mouth
Term
Henotheism
Definition
The belief in one god without denying the existence of other gods
Term
Metaphor
Definition
occurs when a word or phrase is taken out of its normal context and placed with the parameters of another context
Term
Monotheism
Definition
The belief in one god
Term
Myth
Definition
"traditional stories a society tells itself that encode or represent the worldview, beliefs, principles. and often fears of that society."
Term
Mythology
Definition
the study of myths
Term
Personification
Definition
When an inanimate object takes on the qualities and characteristics of a human being
Term
Polytheism
Definition
The belief in multiple gods
Term
Symbolism
Definition
When a concrete object is taken and used as something different. For example, a flag is the symbol of the United States
Term
Syncretism
Definition
A blending of religiions to create a new religion
Term
Theogony
Definition
An account of the origin of the gods
Term
Theophany
Definition
The appearance of a god to man (usually in the form of a cloud, burning bush or pillar of dust)
Term
Therianthropic
Definition
Being partly bestial and partly human in form
Term
Theriomorphic
Definition
In the form of a beast
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