For each of the scheduled quizzes, I shall provide you in advance with the questions from which I shall then choose certain ones for you to answer. I will be providing these "practice quizzes" with each set of reading assignments.

Click on the Practice Quizzes and you will see further information on these activities. If you fill it in and/or look up the answers, then you will have a good study guide before you take the actual quiz.

The first of these follows below. These questions cover Chapters 1-2; don’t forget that in addition to these questions, the quiz will include a chart (or some other format) asking for answers regarding the gods and goddesses of the particular civilization for these particular weeks; for weeks 2-1, of course, this chart will be on the Greek-Roman deities.

QUIZ 1 PRACTICE (For the actual quiz scheduled in week 2, I will select certain questions from the ones below; in effect, you will know the questions in advance.):

1. To anthropomorphize is to give to a god (goddess)?

2. Which of the following characteristics would be valid parts of a definition of the term "myth"?

a. is a story, tale, or legend

b. is/was often handed down by word of mouth

c. is often an attempt to explain some natural phenomenon

d. always deals with a hero

e. probably has symbolic meanings

3. List 3 words we use in English which are based on Greek or Roman mythological terms. Then, explain why the English word and its general use is appropriate (for example, in English we use the expression "martial arts"; this expression uses a word related to the Graeco-Roman god Mars; our use is appropriate because Mars was the god of war, and the expression "martial arts" refers to those skills a warrior needs.

a. 

b. 

c. 

4. Explain the origin of the following words we use for the names of the days of the week or the months of the year:

a. Tuesday

b. January

c. Saturday

d. August

e. Thursday

1. According to Hindu scriptures, what are the three elemental substances out of which various kinds of bodies are made?

2. Where do demons come from in this Hindu mythology?

3. Where do human beings come from in this mythology?

1. _______ is the source of all good; _______ is the source of evil.

2. A _______ is the first sin.

3. _______is the personification of all feminine evil.

4. _______ and his were Ormazd’s last creations.

1. Where geographically do we think of when we talk about the Norse world?

2. According to Norse mythology, a vast bottomless deep shrouded in an atmosphere of mist was the nature of the universe in its beginning. The first two creatures to inhabit this world were _______ and his _______.

3. According to Norse mythology, who is the chief god who organized the world, separating the darkness from the light?

4. What supports the universe?

5. The three early gods of Norse mythology each gave man a gift. Identify the gift from each god:

Odin

Vili

Ve

1. This is one of our matriarchal myths. What does matriarchal mean? It means that a _________ form is the first deity.

2. How did Ophion and Eurynome fill the earth with creatures?

1. According to this mythology, Olorun, the Supreme Being, called Orisha Nla into his presence and said, "Here are three gifts, now make a world." Name the three gifts.

2. Although Orisha Nla makes the body for people, who gives it life?

According to this myth, where do the sun and moon come from?

1. In Chinese culture mythology, balance is very important. When chaos divided itself, what did the two parts become?

2. When Pangu died, what happened to his body parts? His stomach became _______; his eyes became _______; his tears became _______.

1. When Izanagi and Izanami united their bodies and conceived offspring, what was the first thing they gave birth to?

2. When Izanagi fled from his wife in the Land of the Night (where she went after she had died), she sent the Ugly Night Spirit to bring him back. To distract this Ugly Night Spirit, he threw down to her two combs. What did the combs turn into? _____________ and ________________.

1. The gods Ao and Po represent different aspects of the entire universe. Identify some of the things each represents.

Ao:

Po:

2. What is the great kapu or taboo of Polynesian mythology?

According to this myth, what secures the separation of Mother Earth and Papa?

1. Who is the great eternal god who created all creatures?

2. Why did the Evening Star put obstacles in the way of Morning Star when he pursued her and tried to marry her?

1. India: What is the creative source of all living things in Indian myth?

All things are a product of Brahma’s _______.

2. Iran: The distinguishing characteristic of Zoroastrianism is its duality.

The good and Wise Lord is Ormazd, and his opposite Ahriman represents _______.

3. Norse: Clouds congealed to form the _______and Ymir, his _______, whose licking eventually exposed the first god, the father of Odin.

4. Greek: Cronus castrated his jealous and mean father _______ ; Cronus then married _______, with whom he had five children, including the future king of the gods _______. Cronus, like his father, became jealous and swallowed all his children but one, for he was tricked by a stone wrapped in baby clothes.

5. West Africa, Yoruba: The Supreme Being Olorun called the Great God Orisha Nla into his presence and ordered him to create a world. What three things did Olorun give Orisha Nla to assist him in the creation?

6. Finland: The virgin daughter Luonnatar floated for 700 years before who (or what) came into her life and helped begin the process of creation?

7. Japan: After a life of love and creating, Izanagi is repelled by his wife’s decaying looks and he flees from her. Izanami sends evil demons in pursuit of him. How does he escape these demons?

He drops and or throws things which turn into other objects;

combs become _______and _______; and a _______detracts the 800 spirits.

8. Polynesian: Another myth of duality, the Hawaiian Creation story, the Kumulipo, says Ku, the creator, chants and separates (the light, day, sky, male figure) from _______, the dark, night, earth, female figure)_______.

9. Iroquois: When the chief’s daughter and a tree fall into the world below, swans swim to help her, but it was the _______, who commands all creatures to find her tree and to save the magic soil on its roots.

10. Christianity/Judaic World: According to Genesis 1:1-2:4, what was God’s first order of creation? His first command was _______.

1. When Christians or those who are familiar with Christianity and its beliefs speak of "the Fall," what are they referring to?

2. How did Adam and Eve disobey God? (Be brief, but precise.)

3. What change(s) came over Adam and Eve after they had disobeyed God?

4. What was the punishment the serpent received for leading Eve and Adam into temptation?

5. What punishment did Adam receive?

6. What punishment did Eve receive?

7. Why did Adam name Eve "Eve?"

8. Why did God expel Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden?

9. How many species of animals suffer pain in normal childbirth?

1. Why/how did Feather Woman become the laughing stock of her village?

2. What ritual did the Morning Star perform to get Feather Woman to his home?

3. Who is Star Boy?

4. Who are the parents of Morning Star?

5. What did the Moon tell Feather Woman not to do?

6. Who helped Feather Woman dig the forbidden fruit and how did they make this work easier?

7. What was Feather Woman’s punishment for disobeying her in-laws?

8. How did Feather Woman get back to earth?

9. What does Poia mean and to whom did it refer in this tale?

10. How did Star Boy get back to the home of his grandparents?

11. What two gifts did the grandparents give to Star Boy and what use were they?

1. What is the start of Maui’s downfall?

2. When Maui went to the underworld to visit a relative and get fire, the old woman gave him time and time again on of her

3. How did Maui die?

1. As a small child, how was Murile treated by his mother (family)?

2. After Murile had earned the respect of the Moonpeople and they had given him many fabulous gifts and many wives, he returned home, hoping to impress his family. He was instructed not to let one thing happen. However, he failed and as a result he died. What did he fail to do, even though he promised he would do it?