Dakota Fisher

Mrs. Czahor

Mythology and Folklore

31 October 2022

Unit 4 Critical Thinking Questions

1. Why do you think animal characters are so common in many of

humankind’s myths and legends?

I think that animal characters are so common in many of

humankind’s myths and legends because, especially in more magical
tales, they help represent the animal and natural world we live in. Yes,
many are personified, but we still associate them with real life things.

2. Animals (sometimes in the form of a monster) often must be

defeated in a myth before a character is able to continue their
journey or keep their life. How does this symbolize the obstacles
people face in real life? What is an example of an obstacle you have
faced that mirrors, even loosely, the obstacles monsters present in
myths and legends?

I think this symbolizes that not everything is as harmless as it seems.

Its a silly example, but in Monty Python, they have to face a “killer”
 bunny before proceeding. The knights did not believe it would be
such a threat, and ended up risking all of their lives for assuming the
bunny was harmless. I think we see examples of this everyday, in
things as simple as food. You never know when it may poison you.

3. The idea of a “werewolf” or similar shapeshifter is found in many,

many cultures. Why do you think this myth is so common?

I think this myth is so common because I believe that it falls under

the “shapeshifter”category, which is a fundamental aspect of all
mythologies. It also (in my opinion) can fall under the trickster
category as many shapeshifters, especially skinwalkers, lure you in
with the guise of being harmless, then they strike/transform at the
opportune moment. This can relate to real life, which is why I think it's
so common.

4. How do the myths and legends about animals help us infer the ways
in which certain animals were important to a society?

If an animal was seen as some sort of mentor or guide, they were

likely seen as helpful and friendly animals (often how dolphins are
seen(I don't like dolphins)). On the flipside, animals in myths seen as
villains are likely seen as harmful or dangerous animals, often more
carnivorous and beast-like.
5. Cryptids exist in almost every known culture. Why do you think the
idea of an animal that exists outside the realm of the knowable or
provable is so intriguing?

I think the idea of an animal outside the realm of the knowable is so

intriguing because it seeks to explain things that we cannot through
science or observation. Things such as skinwalkers seek to explain
the haunting and harrowing sounds we hear alone in a forest.
Shadow people seek to explain the eerie human shaped silhouettes
we see peeking through, watching us. It gains our attention because
science can neither confirm nor deny the existence of these beings,
so we can never truly know just how real they are.