Introduction
Humanities 1103 Net11 Library Research Guide for Professor Beirne's Introduction to World Mythology.
This guide contains links to resources for researching World Mythology.
See the blue menu to the right to find books, articles, and streaming media sources for researching Mythology. If you need additional help, stop by the Reference Desk or contact references services for assistance.
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Image: "Hercules and Omphale" by MATTEIS Paolo de (1662-1728). From JSTOR
Assignment
Introduction to World Mythology-1103-NET10 & 11
Fall 2025 Midterm and Final Assignments
Instructor: Kristen Beirne, beirnek@cod.edu
Our Course Librarian: Professor Ken Orenic
Midterm Assignment-Annotated Bibliography:
NET 11 due date: 11/10/2025
NET 10 due date 11/10/2025
Value 100 points
Final Assessment:
Due 12/12/2025, value: 140 points
Potential topics:
● Mythology in popular culture: Research and present on how a specific myth, such as that of Prometheus or Pandora, is reinterpreted in a contemporary film, television series, or video game.
● Signs of Mythology in modern culture. For example, identify names of widely known music groups, companies, and more, then connect why they chose these names.
Presentation possibilities:
● Powerpoint/slide presentation
● Create a podcast
● Create an idea-email me, we can discuss possibilities
For midterm assignments, identify which myth will be used in your presentation along with which presentation format. An additional 5 points submitting 5 sentences describing you topic.
For your final assignment, students will choose a myth and demonstrate how that myth has endured time to still be told today. The characters’ names and the
setting may have changed, but the main characters and themes remain.
First: Identify which myth and which format. Submit this for 5 points
Next: Find 3-5 solid sources (books, films, journal articles, podcasts, etc.) that will support your theory/argument.
Next: Write an annotated bibliography containing these sources
Next, Compose a 2-3 page (double spaced, MLA format) essay detailing your presentation.
Finally: Create your presentation format (slides, podcast) to submit for your final project.
We will work on this project in stages, a step at a time.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to do the following:
1. Identify the functions of myth, legend, and folktale and interpret those functions as they appear in particular myths, legends, and folktales
2. Explain the basic assumptions and methodologies of major schools of mythological interpretation and interpret significant myths utilizing the insights of these schools
3. Recognize the universal themes and motifs of myths as well as the unique expressions of these elements in selected cultures
4. Interpret the relationship between a society's myths and their historical background using anthropological, religious, psychological, philosophical, and/or literary perspectives
5. Trace the themes and motifs of significant myths from ancient cultures to their re-appearance in the literature, art, music, drama, and film of modern cultures
