Question 1

Who complained in the sixth century BC about the ethical weakness of the Olympian gods, and insisted that popular notions about them must be wrong?

Accepted Answer

Xenophanes was a pre-Socratic philosopher who criticized the anthropomorphic depiction of gods and their ethical weaknesses, suggesting that popular beliefs about them were incorrect.

Question 2

Which ancient author banned poets and their lying stories in his vision of the ideal state?

Accepted Answer

Plato, in his work "The Republic," argued for the exclusion of poets from his ideal state because he believed their stories were based on falsehoods and could mislead citizens.

Question 3

Roman writers who followed Stoic philosophy argued that Juno was really _______ because the Greek and Latin word for _______ sounded like "Hera"?

Accepted Answer

The Greek and Latin word for "air" is "aer," which sounds similar to "Hera," the Greek goddess equivalent to Juno. Stoic philosophers made this connection in their interpretations.

Question 4

_______ is a Greek word that means "something put together with something else."

Accepted Answer

The answer of _______ is a Greek word that means...

Question 5

What writer of the later sixth century BC was said to have been the first to use the allegorical method?

Accepted Answer

Theagenes of Rhegium is credited with being the first to use the allegorical method to interpret Homeric texts, around the late sixth century BC.

Question 6

The interpretation of Cronus as "time" illustrates how the Stoics used _______ to reinforce allegory?

Accepted Answer

The Stoics used etymology, the study of the origin of words and how their meanings have changed, to interpret Cronus as "time," reinforcing allegorical interpretations.

Question 7

Which of the following is the thesis that gods were once humans?

Accepted Answer

Euhemerism is the thesis that gods were once humans and their stories are based on historical events or people.

Question 8

The special contribution of which ancient author was to explain myths as originating from a misunderstanding of language?

Accepted Answer

Palaephatus is known for his work "On Unbelievable Tales," where he attempted to rationalize myths by suggesting they arose from misunderstandings or misinterpretations of language and events.

Question 9

Which of the following became the major philosophical movement of the final centuries of the pagan era (AD 200-500)?

Accepted Answer

Neoplatonism became the major philosophical movement during the final centuries of the pagan era, influencing both pagan and early Christian thought.

Question 10

Plotinus saw a correspondence between Intellect and _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Plotinus saw a correspondence between Intellect and...

Question 11

Porphyry produced an extremely complex interpretation of Homer's description of the _______, arguing that it represents the universe because it is generated from matter and is natural.

Accepted Answer

Porphyry's interpretation of Homer's work focused on the cave of the nymphs on Ithaca, which he argued symbolized the universe due to its natural and material origins.

Question 12

As direct acquaintance with classical culture and literature declined, myths became known principally through such influential handbooks as the Mythologies of _______, a sixth-century AD North African Christian.

Accepted Answer

Fulgentius was a sixth-century North African Christian writer known for his work on mythologies, which became influential as direct acquaintance with classical culture and literature declined.

Question 13

Botticelli's painting of the birth of Venus reflects which the ideas of which philosophical school?

Accepted Answer

Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" reflects Neoplatonism, which combines elements of Plato's philosophy with other mystical and religious ideas, emphasizing beauty and the divine.

Question 14

Which of the following are, according to Giambattista Vico, the three phases in the great cycle of history?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following are, according to...

Question 15

Sir James Frazer's book _______ is often ranked as one of the most influential works of modern times.

Accepted Answer

"The Golden Bough" by Sir James Frazer is a seminal work in anthropology and comparative religion, exploring myth and ritual across cultures, and is considered highly influential in these fields.

Question 16

Bronislaw Malinowski is the founder of which theory of myth?

Accepted Answer

Bronislaw Malinowski is known for the charter theory of myth, which suggests that myths serve as social charters, legitimizing social institutions and practices.

Question 17

Max Müller is the founder of which theory of myth?

Accepted Answer

Max Müller is known for the solar mythology theory, which suggests that myths are derived from natural phenomena, particularly the sun.

Question 18

The Oedipus Complex is a famous theory put forth by _______.

Accepted Answer

The Oedipus Complex is a psychoanalytic theory developed by Sigmund Freud, which describes a child's feelings of desire for their opposite-sex parent and jealousy toward their same-sex parent.

Question 19

The highly influential theory of structuralism is particularly associated with _______, who wrote that "mythical thought always works from the awareness of oppositions toward their progressive mediation."

Accepted Answer

Claude Lévi-Strauss is the anthropologist associated with structuralism and the idea that mythical thought works through oppositions.

Question 20

Walter Burkert argues that the structures that inform myth reflect biological or cultural _______.

Accepted Answer

Walter Burkert suggests that myths are informed by biological or cultural "programs of action," which are patterns or structures that guide behavior and thought.

Quiz 25: Theories of Myth Interpretation