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Myths, Symbols &
Heroes in Literature |
TOPIC #1: Analyze the myths of a particular culture
TOPIC #2: Explore the meanings of a symbol
TOPIC #3: A hero’s journey / a journey towards
enlightenment
TOPIC #1: Analyze the myths of a particular culture
1) To find a primary source: (for this assignment, this means the text
of a myth or tale)
A.
Use the PLS Online Catalog (the online catalog for books in
Skyline Library and in all libraries in the Peninsula Library System.)
- Click on the link above to
access the catalog
- Enter your search words in the search boxes (see example below)
- To limit your results to books at Skyline College Library:
- In the Limit to: Location:
pull-down menu (below search boxes), select: Skyline College
- Click the Submit button.
Sample search (use Advanced Search mode):
(myth*
OR legend* OR tales OR folk*) AND
(
You can also browse the books under the two series titles:
“Myths of the World”
“World Folklore Series”
B) Suggested
print anthologies:
Folklore, Myths, and Legends: A World Perspective
GR76.R665
1997
The
World of Myth: An Anthology
BL311.L328 1990
(A collection of myths from around the world: creation, flood, afterlife,
heroes, gods, etc.)
C) Suggested websites:
Folklore and
Mythology Electronic Texts
Google Directory Links to Myths websites, by culture
Encyclopedia Mythica
Folklinks: Folk and Fairy-Tale Sites
2) To find secondary sources about the
culture itself:
A) Use the PLS Online Catalog:
Sample search (use Advanced Search mode):
(culture* OR custom* OR
civilization) AND
(
B)
Researching
Cultures (Skyline Library pathfinder)
Cultural Profiles Project: Overview of life and customs in the profiled country from Canadian Citizenship and Immigration agency. While the profiles provide insight into some customs, they do not cover all facets of life, and the customs described may not apply in equal measure to all newcomers from the profiled country.
Portals to the World: Selective links from the Library of Congress providing authoritative, in-depth information about the nations and other areas of the world, arranged by country or area with the links for each sorted into a wide range of broad categories.
Country Studies: Description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world, from the Library of Congress.
Country Watch - on-campus OR off-campus with library card: Political, economic, and business information on any country.
and these print works:
CultureGrams REF and CIRC: GT150.C85 (4 vols.)
Worldmark
Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life REF/ GN333.W67
TOPIC #2: Explore
the meanings of a symbol
1) REFERENCE
books:
Symbols
and Their Meanings REF AZ108.T74 2000
The
Illustrated Book of Signs and Symbols REF AZ108.B78 1996
A
Dictionary of Symbols REF BF1623.S9.C513
1000
Symbols REF N7740.S54 2002
Dictionary
of Symbols: An Illustrated Guide to Traditional Images, Icons, and Emblems REF
GR931.T74
Man,
Myth and Magic REF BF1411.M25 (25 vols.)
Larousse
World Mythology BL311.G683 (REF and Circ collection)
The Dictionary
of World Myth REF BL303.D46
Myths
and Legends REF GR74.M97
Storytelling
Encyclopedia: Historical, Cultural, and Multiethnic Approaches to Oral
Traditions Around the World REF GR72.S76
Medieval
Folklore REF GR35.M43 (2 vols.)
Larousse Dictionary of World Folklore REF
GR35.J664
2 Find
articles using Gale InfoTrac PowerSearch – on campus or off-campus w/
library card - Database of articles from journals, magazines & newspapers
Sample search (use Advanced Search mode):
dragon AND
myth*
OR meaning OR symbol*
3 Suggested websites:
Encyclopedia Mythica
Dictionary
of Symbolism
TOPIC
#3: A hero’s journey / a journey
towards enlightenment
1) To find
secondary sources:
a) Literary criticism:
Use
the PLS Online Catalog:
Sample searches:
1) “catcher in
the rye” AND interpretation
2) hemingway AND interpretation
Gale
Literature Resource Center - on campus or off-campus w/ library card - Database of quality literary
criticism articles & biographical info on authors
Note: When results for a search are first displayed, only biographical
articles are listed.
Click on the "Literary Criticism, Articles & Work Overviews" tab
for more extensive lists of articles; then click on the "Articles" & "Work
Overview" tabs for additional articles.
b) Biographical sources:
-- PLS Online Catalog (search the author’s name as a
subject)
-- Gale Biography Resource Center - on
campus or off-campus w/ library card - Database of
biographical articles on famous people.
-- Gale Literature Resource Center
c) Background perspectives
-- PLS Online Catalog
(see sample searches
above)
-- Literature and its Times : Profiles of 300 Notable Literary Works
and the Historical Events that
Influenced Them REF/PN50.L574 1997 (5 vols.)
--
The
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Compiled by Dennis Wolbers October 2006 |
