Topic 3: Creation Myths (Samples)

Weeks 4-5 (Aug. 31-Sept. 3; Sept. 6-10)

I. What is this lesson about?

In this third lesson in the course, we will read the creation myths from representative cultures. We will focus on
how creation was conceived by the ancient Greeks and Romans, the Norse, the Japanese, the Chinese, the Hindus
and our Filipino ancestors.

II. What will you learn?

At the end of this topic, you will be able to:

a. explain how the creation myths around the world reflect the culture of the societies which have formed
and shaped them.

III. Let’s read!

Creation is one of the major themes of myths. Different cultures have their unique way of understanding how the
world and everything within and outside of it began. This is reflected in their own creation narratives which explain
the origins of all living and non-living elements around them as well as the social structures that are observed and
maintained. The stories also provide insights into how a particular culture views life and death and interestingly, the
after-life if this indeed exists for the members of the group.

Read the creation myths from different parts of the world provided through these links. Soft copies are appended to
this module for those who may have problems accessing the files. Also, an audio-visual version of most of these texts
are available through this link http://www.bigmyth.com/.

Before you read and study these texts, it will be helpful if you preview part IV. Let’s Discuss for the tasks you will be
expected to accomplish after.

English Education 6-Mythology and Folklore

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 A. Greek/Roman Creation Myth http://www.bigmyth.com/download/GREEK_CREATION.pdf
B. Norse Creation Myth http://www.bigmyth.com/download/NORSE_CREATION.pdf
C. Japanese Creation Myth http://www.bigmyth.com/download/JAPANESE_CREATION.pdf
D. Chinese Creation Myth http://www.bigmyth.com/download/CHINESE_CREATION.pdf
E. Hindu Creation Myth http://www.bigmyth.com/download/HINDU_CREATION.pdf
F. Tagalog Creation Myth http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/folktales/mythsintroduction.htm
G. Bikol Creation Myth https://www.aswangproject.com/bicol-origin-myth-creation/
H. Visayan Creation Myth https://www.aswangproject.com/tungkung-langit-alunsina/

VI. Let’s Discuss!

A. Match the words below with the creation myth to which they belong in the table.

Pan-Gu Iron Race Yggdrasil In and Yo

Izanagi Languit Prajapati Tungkung Langit
Maisog Midgard Rudra Golden Age
Alunsina Ginnungagap Nuwa

Greek/ Roman Norse Japanese Chinese Hindu Bikol Visayan

Tungkung Langit
Alunsina

B. Based on the texts you have read, complete the table for a better analysis and an overview of the different
creation myths.

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 CULTURE What element/ creature was How were humans formed or What natural phenomena
present prior to creation? who created them? and/or human experiences
are explained?

GREEK/ ROMAN

NORSE

JAPANESE

CHINESE

HINDU

TAGALOG

BIKOL

VISAYAN

Feedback

These are just samples of the creation myths recorded from different ancient cultures across the world. They have
common themes as well as variations depending on many possible influences existing in their environment or from
the experiences and/or collective valuing of the members

V. Let’s Apply What You’ve Learned!

MY CREATION MYTH
Aware of the similarities and differences among the samples you have just read and using your own creativity,
briefly narrate your own creation myth (1 page). Be guided by the rubric and format to be provided.

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Rubric (20 points)
Criteria 4 3
Content
Gives very complete
information; ideas well
developed; thorough; on
target
Organization Logically and effectively
ordered; main points and
details are properly
connected; fluent;
not choppy whatsoever
Vocabulary
Broad; impressive, 1-2 errors
in word use and choice;
extensive use of appropriate
words
Language
1-2 grammatical errors;
language clearly expresses
meaning; work well edited
Provides adequate
information; some ideas are
developed; but some ideas
lack supporting details
An apparent order to the
content is intended; uses
cohesive devices but work
remains somewhat choppy
and loosely organized; main
points stand although
sequencing of ideas is
somewhat faulty
Adequate but not impressive;
3-4 erroneous choices of
words and meaning is
confused or obscured; some
use of appropriate words
3-4 grammatical errors;
erroneous use of language
does not impede
comprehensibility; some
editing for language evident
but not thoroughly done
2 1
Gives little information;
ideas are present but not
developed; lacks
supporting details
Limited order to the
content; lacks logical
sequencing of ideas;
ineffective ordering;
absence of appropriate
cohesive devices makes
text choppy and disjointed
5-6 erroneous word used or
choice resulting in
confused or obscured
meaning; limited use of
appropriate words, some
literal translation and
invented words
5-6 grammatical errors (s-v
agreement, pronoun
antecedent, tense, faulty
use of article); erroneous
use of language impedes
comprehensibility, work
poorly edited for language
English Education 6-Mythology and Folklore
Hardly gives information;
fails to communicate
message
No organization
whatsoever; manner of
putting sentences
together indicated lack of
knowledge on how ideas
should be organized
Exhibits lack of knowledge
of appropriate vocabulary
and idioms
Shows lack of knowledge
of basic syntactic rules,
simply puts together
words that fail to
communicate meaning
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 usage

Mechanics Only 1-2 inaccuracies in 3-4 inaccuracies in spelling 5-6 inaccuracies in spelling Work is dominated by
spelling punctuation, punctuation, capitalization punctuation, capitalization errors in spelling
capitalization and and paragraphing; exhibits and paragraphing; with punctuation, capitalization
paragraphing neatness erasures and alterations. and paragraphing does
not exhibit neatness

SUBMISSION/ FORMAT OPTIONS:

A. Upload a clear photo of your handwritten work.
B. Upload a screenshot of your work.
C. Upload a scanned version of your work.
D. Upload a doc or docx file.

Submission must be done via Google Classroom on or before September 13, 2020 at 8:00 pm.

Let’s Reflect.

How do you see the creation myths in our own culture (Christian creation story and the Bikol creation myth)? What
do they tell us about our identity as Christians and/or Bikolnons?

English Education 6-Mythology and Folklore

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 Key

A. Matching Type

Greek/ Roman Norse Japanese Chinese Hindu Bikol Visayan

Golden Age Ginnungagap In and Yo Pan-Gu Prajapati Languit Alunsina

Iron Race Yggdrasil Izanagi Nuwa Rudra Maisog Tungkung
Midgard Langit

B. Based on the texts you have read, complete the table for a better analysis and an overview of the different
creation myths.

CULTURE What element/ How were humans formed or What natural phenomena
creature was present who created them? and/or human experiences are
prior to creation? explained?

GREEK/ ROMAN Gaia the gods: Kronos created the generations of humans, wars,
Golden Age, the first race of labor, suffering
humans; Zeus created the Silver,
Bronze, Heroic and Iron Age.

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NORSE Great emptiness Odin, from fallen trees creation of the earth and
heavenly bodies, suffering, death

JAPANESE darkness not clear but possibly from Izanagi Earth, the islands especially those
and Izanami as well from whom constituting Japan, heaven and
the gods and other elements came heavenly bodies, male and
female

CHINESE enormous egg Nuwa, from mud Earth and heavenly bodies, the
containing chaos roles of humans

HINDU primeval waters the husband and wife gods from a Earth, seasons, elements, good
division of Prajapati and evil, light and dark, time

TAGALOG bird/ kite Bamboo struck by the bird/kite creation of islands, peopling,
social structures and variety of
skin color

BIKOL Vast expanse of water From a seed yielding to a bamboo creation of land and heavenly
and sky planted by the god Tubigan bodies, peopling, variety of skin
colors, invention of fish trap

VISAYAN formless void Not mentioned creation of the earth and sea,
plants, heavenly bodies, rain and
thunder

Suggested Readings

Leeming, D. A. (2010). Creation myths of the world: An encyclopedia (2nd ed.). ABC-CLIO, LLC.

References

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Ashliman, D. L. (2003, January 8). The creation story (Tagalog). Creation Myths from the Philippines.
https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/creation-phil.html.

Clark, J. (2016, July 30). Bicol origin myth: The creation of the world . THE ASWANG PROJECT.
https://www.aswangproject.com/bicol-origin-myth-creation/.

Clark, J. (2016, July 30). Visayan origin myth: Creation of the sun and moon. THE ASWANG PROJECT.
https://www.aswangproject.com/visayan-origin-myth/.

Myths from different regions of the Philippines. (n.d.).New Page 2

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/folktales/mythsintroduction.htm.

Passantino, F. (2020). THE BIG MYTH. http://www.bigmyth.com/.

Appendices

Copies of the Greek/Roman Creation Myth

the Norse Creation Myth
the Japanese Creation Myth
the Chinese Creation Myth
the Hindu Creation Myth
the Tagalog Creation Myth
the Bikol Creation Myth
The Visayan Creation Myth

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