• Discuss myth as a story that shows behaviors that ar

Myths paint a portrait of ideal human behavior,illustrating what the people of a particular culture valued in action,thought,and deed.Myths may also explain social hierarchy,why some people have higher status than others.
Man's Shining Moment
In myths,ideal human attributes shine most brightly through the character of a hero.The hero plays an important role in classical mythology.Among all the grandiose stories of gods,goddesses,and other deities,a few humans earn praise and admiration for their feats.These human heroes became models for good and admirable behavior.
How did these men emerge from the shadows of the gods to become heroes?Why were they singled out as exemplary?What actions did their peers admire?
Good Behavior Rewarded
The ancients admired many characteristics that people today also find admirable.For example,when you think of a hero,you probably imagine adventure.In ancient times,adventure stories were highly popular.A classical hero,however,had to display certain traits to be considered heroic.A hero had to be not just brave but fearless.A hero had to be supremely confident and full of ambition that drove him to meet all challenges.Classical heroes were so confident that they might seem like egomaniacs to modern readers.
Modern readers enjoy rags-to-riches stories,in which a character triumphs over class-related or economic adversity.Classical heroes,however,were usually of high birth.They had royal or even divine blood.
Beyond confidence,the hero must show loyalty to something that keeps him grounded,such as a deity or a friend.Even when faced with the most tempting of treacheries,the hero must remain loyal to his allies or his creed.This loyalty might be to the hero's family.Classical mythology is full of adultery,and cheating on one's spouse was often seen as something beyond the hero's control.However,those few heroes who remained faithful were greatly admired.
Heroes also show mastery of a particular skill,sometimes several.It doesn't matter whether that skill was in archery,war strategy,or the art of seduction.What's important is that the hero exhibits unusual skill in some endeavor.
Classical myths also highlighted admirable qualities in women; however,women were less celebrated than their male counterparts.The most important virtue for a woman was loyalty to her family.For example,Penelope remained faithful to her husband,Odysseus,throughout his long absence,tricking the suitors who tried to convince her he was dead.Other common characteristics of a good woman were cleverness,wisdom,and hospitality.
The Right to Rule
Because heroes were of royal or divine blood,myths also justified rulers' claims to power.Roman mythology,in particular,traces the succession of several kings and emperors back to the gods.This divine lineage validated the rulers' claims to power.What people wouldn't want a ruler with divine blood running through his veins?And who would dare to challenge a ruler who had family ties to a deity?
再问： 哇塞 好厉害 能不能再写一篇Legends are stories that relate striking events (neither true nor false, but striking). How are they different from stories we read in the newspaper? 这是题目，文章里还要有引用之类的 . 文中所示[1]为间接引用，[2]、[3]为直接引用。 3. 参考书目格式如上所示，顺序依次为作者姓名、书名、出版社、出版年代和引用页码。
再答： 不可能现给你写一篇严谨的论文的，还要引用。。。纯论文可以去电子图书馆之类的查嘛Legends are stories that relate striking events Legend has several meanings. A legend today may be someone of noted celebrity, with larger-than-life accomplishments, whose fame is well-known. For example , there are countless legends about emperors in China. Another meaning of legend is a literary genre. In this capacity, the term legend is much-abused, used synonymously with myth, tall tale, and history. However, it makes more sense to use the term legend — as it is, in fact, often used — to name a type of literature that falls somewhere between myth, tall tales, and history and that otherwise has no name. In this sense, legend differs from stories we read in the newspaper. if we understand myth to be focused on explaining natural phenomena, answering questions about why things are the way they are in the natural world, because legend is focused on individuals and their accomplishments. Finally, legend is separated from history by the fact that its content, once believed to have been true, turns out to be fictional. The heroes of legend in this sense, then, are fictional heroes or real people whose exploits aren’t quite what they’re made out to be, who were either so lifelike or so admirable that people wished they were real. This description fits the works and heroes typically associated with the genre.