English 202/202W Final

Instructions: choose one question from each set of stories to answer at length in essay form. Explain all your answers in detail.

Chinese Myths (15 pts)

1.     

2.     

3.     

Buddhist Myths (15 pts)

1.     

2.     

3.     

Celtic Myths (15 pts)

1.     

2.     

3.     

Hindu Myths (15 pts)

1.     

2.     

3.     

Japanese Myths (15 pts)

1.     

2.     

3.     

Hawaiian Myths (15 pts)

1.     

2.     

3.     

Anansi Myths (15 pts)

1.     

2.     

3.     

Student-generated Questions in Anticipation of Final

Chinese Myths (15 pts)

1.      How does Chinese mythology reflect the way their people lived?

2.            Describe some differences between Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism?

3.      How do the creation stories depict Chinese views on humanity/ people?

Buddhist Myths (15 pts)

1.  What key ideas are expressed by the Four Noble Truths, and how are they reflected in the stories of Buddha?

2.  Describe two mundrah (hand positions) of Buddha statues, and their significance.   

3.  What Buddhist ideals are shown in the works of Beat generation artists?  Give examples.

Celtic Myths (15 pts)

1.     Why do some Irish identify themselves as Celts?

2.      What was the significance of the mounds in the story of the Three Etains?

3.      What was ancient Celtic culture like?

Hindu Myths (15 pts)

1.      Describe the three paths to spirit and how do they justify the caste system in India??

2.      Describe the two planes of reality and how they interact with one another.

3.     How do the Hindu people view their pantheon of gods in terms of manifestations of the divine? Are they a truly pantheistic culture??

Japanese Myths (15 pts)

1.      Why did Japanese people think the forty-seven Ronin did the right thing?

2.      What is Bushido and how did it affect Japanese myths and stories?

3.  How was the Bushido code and Confucianism present in the story of the hell-Screen?

Hawaiian Myths (15 pts)

1. What was the effect of Christianity on the view of Pele?    

2. How did the Kapu system affect the Hawaiian culture?

3.  In what ways are Pele and other Hawaiian myths found in Hawaiian Christianity today?

Anansi Myths (15 pts)

1.      Compare and contrast the Jamaican Anansi to the Ashanti Anansi.

2.     How might slavery have affected the Jamaican Anansi?

3.      What was the significance of the story in which Anansi became bald?