Essay question:

1. What role does pride play in Greek mythology and Japanese

mythology?
2. How do the myths differentiate between human and divine power?
3. What do the Greek myths suggest about tragedy?
4. How is the value of family loyalty portrayed by the myths?
5. What have the myths to tell us about love?
6. How do myths account for natural events?
7. What is Greek virtue in the Greek myths?
8. How was Greek mythology important to their society and culture?

PART 1: Short Answers (10 pts)

Answer the questions in complete sentences. Each blank is worth 1
points for a total of 10 points.
 1. As told in the Kojiki, the beginning of the world was a time of
__________, where everything existed as a limitless and
______________ mass of disorder. 
2. It was said that when ____________ and Izanami were taking a
walk, Izanagi thrust his spear in the water, pulled it out, and caused
clumps of _____ to fall back into the sea.
3. The second part of the creation story is called the ___________
and describes the birth of the original Japanese _________.
4. The couple continued to reproduce various offspring until the god
of fire, ____________ burned and killed Izanami as she was giving
birth to him. Desolate with grief, Izanagi retaliated by decapitating
Kagutsuchi and cutting his son into _______ pieces.
5. Instructing the _________ to join the hunt for her husband,
Izanami pursued her husband all the way to the boundaries of the
______ world.

PART 2: True or False (10 pts)

If the statement is false, please rewrite it so it is true. Each question is worth 1
point, for a total of 10 points.

1. The Kojiki is the oldest collection of poems and songs of Japan's history.
2. The Kamiumi refers to the first part of the creation story, which details how
the Earth as we know it came to be.
3. Given a magical sword by higher powers, Izanagi and Izanami were
assigned the duty of turning the earth into a habitable place.
4. After they fell in love and mated, Izanagi and Izanami ended up only having
a few children.
 5. Raijin is the god of lightning; he is often depicted as a demon who carries a
bag of winds over one of his shoulders.
6. Ryujin, the god of the oceans and seas is also known as Owatatsumi.
7. The eight pieces of Kagutsuchi's flesh that Izanagi chopped up would later
become the eight major volcanoes of Japan.
8. Kuraokami, the goddess of the rain and snow was born from Izanagi's tears
after his wife died.
9. Yomi can be literally translated into 'the shadowy land of the dead'.
10.The existence of death was directly brought on about by Izanami's pride and
spite.

PART 3: Multiple Choice (10 pts)

For each of the questions, choose the most appropriate answer. Each question is
worth 2 point, for a total of 10 points.

  1.  The name of the spear Izanagi and Iznami were given was called the
            a)    Kotoamatsukami.
            b)    Takama-ga-hara.
            c)    Ama-no-Nuboko.
            d)    Ame-no-mihashira.

  2.  Ryujin is a ____________ with an ability to transform into a human at will.

            a)    dragon
            b)    duck
            c)    shark
            d)    sea serpent

  3.  Yakusa no ikazuchi is another name for the god of

            a)    wind.
            b)    lightning.
            c)    mountains.
            d)    wells.

4.  Izanagi took his comb that was used to tie back his hair and later used it as a
            a)    weapon of self defense.
            b)    torch.
            c)    back-scratcher.
            d)    piece of wood to light a fire.

5.  While Izanagi was escaping the underworld, he took a boulder and
            a)    ate it to regain his strength and keep running.
            b)    threw it at Izanami and the shikome to impede them from catching up
with him.
            c)    hid behind it so Izanami and the shikome wouldn't be able to find him.
            d)    used it to block the entranceway of the world of the dead and world of
the living.