English 202: Introduction to World Mythology
first paper: Interpreting Myths and Sacred Stories

The "meaning" of a story or myth can be elusive. Stories can also have multiple meanings and work on different levels. Your assignment is to explain meaning in one (or more) of the stories we have read or heard. The meaning you explain—also called interpretation—should be plausible and reasonable. To make it plausible and reasonable you will have to put together an essay that persuades based on evidence supported by the elements of the story. Be sure not to try to do too much. Use only one (or at the most two) critical approaches. Depth is better than breadth in literary analysis.

Be sure to consider the following things:

• facts within the stories
• language
• the elements of a story (plot, point of view, character(s), setting, theme(s), symbolism, tone and style)
• the writer’s or teller’s background, experience, etc.
• culture and history of the writer
• the writer’s views
• the critical approaches taken to literature (Formalist, Biographical, Historical, Psychological, Mythological, Sociological, Gender, Reader-Response, Deconstructionist, Cultural)
• your own background, experience, history, and culture

 Requirements:

• Typed
• 5-7 double-spaced pages ("W" students 7-10 double-spaced pages)
• Standard, reasonable margins and fonts
• Name, class, quarter clearly stated
• Cite sources using Modern Language Association (MLA) standards
• Turned in on time

 Essay will be evaluated based on the following concepts:

• Completion of requirements
• Thoughtfulness (see above)
• Standard writing criteria (focus, detail, organization, and clarity)