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1. Mythology in Art & Literature
Professor Will Adams · Wadams5@valenciacollege.edu
Osceola Campus – Building 2, Room 234 · Mondays & Wednesdays, 1:30 – 2:45 PM
“Without a knowledge of mythology much of the elegant
literature of our own language cannot be understood
and appreciated.”
- Thomas Bulfinch (1796 – 1867 AD), mythologist
Course Description
 Examines world mythology in comparative perspective, analyzes myths with a variety of
methods, and considers the application of mythological ideas and symbols in the humanities.
 This is a Gordon Rule course in which the student is required to demonstrate college-level
writing skills through multiple writing assignments.
 A minimum grade of C is required if used to satisfy the Gordon Rule requirement.
 A minimum grade of C in ENC 1101 or ENC 1101H or IDH 1110 is required to enroll in this
course.
Course Objectives
 Analyze and demonstrate how mythology is used by various cultures to explain the world
around us
 Articulate the similarities and differences between ancient mythologies and contemporary
culture
 Interpret what we can learn about a culture by studying its myths, rituals and religions
 Articulate connections between world mythologies and contemporary culture such as film,
literature, music, or personal life where relevant.
 Assume an active, questioning, critical stance in working within the classroom community,
thus developing confidence as critical readers and thinkers
 Demonstrate college level writing skills on all of these through various oral and writing
assignments
Required Text
David A. Leeming’s The World of Myth, 2nd Edition, ISBN 9780199316366
Joseph Campbell’s Myths to Live By, ISBN 9780140194616

2. Student Evaluation Formula
1. Attendance & Class Participation 35%
 Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting, and count as part of the
attendance & participation grade.
 The professor should hear each student’s voice at least once per class meeting.
 Tardiness of more than 15 minutes after the scheduled beginning of class constitutes an
absence.
 Please be aware that, under Valencia’s Attendance Policy, there is no such thing as an
“excused absence”.
 In-class activities, homework assignments, and in-class assignments also count toward this
portion of your final grade.
 Pop, short-form pop quizzes may be administered throughout the course of the class.
 The format that the quizzes come in may vary from quiz to quiz.
2. Cultural Event & Written Evaluation 15%
 You will be required to attend one cultural event during the class’s duration.
 Throughout the class’s duration the instructor may suggest various events to you, but it is
ultimately your own responsibility to find and attend an approved cultural event.
 Proof of attendance at said event must be furnished (i.e. ticket stub, program, etc.).
 A two-page “reaction” (i.e. non-research) paper is required. Be sure to answer the following
questions: What did I do? What did I think of it? What did I learn?
3. Research Project 25%
 One 4-page written research project is required.
 Proper MLA style citation should be used for all written assignments.
 Plagiarism = A grade of zero. No exceptions.
 Wikipedia use = A grade of zero. No exceptions.
 All research projects should be stapled by the student.
 A detailed research project description will be distributed at a later date.
4. Examinations 25%
 Four long-form examinations will be administered.
 The format of the exam may vary in each instance.
 Examinations will not be cumulative in their subject matter.
 You will be given a study guide for most exams, at the instructor’s discretion.
Grading Scale
100 – 90% = A
89 – 80% = B
79 – 70% = C
69 – 60% = D
59 – 0% = F

3. Schedule of Class Meetings
CLASS MEETING DATE CLASS MEETING TASKS
Monday, August 29th Activity: Introduce class
Activity: Distribute & discuss syllabus
Wednesday, August 31st Activity: Share Proust homework
Lecture: Joseph Campbell’s Four Functions of Myth lecture
Monday, September 5th LABOR DAY – NO CLASS
Wednesday, September 7th Activity: RESEARCH PROJECT ASSIGNED & LIBRARY
VISIT
Monday, September 12th Lecture: Symbols in Mythology
Wednesday, September 14th Lecture: Mythological Archetypes
Monday, September 19th IMPORTANT: Exam #1
Wednesday, September 21st Lecture: The Hero Monomyth
Monday, September 26th Film: Atlantis: The Lost Empire
In-Class Assignment: Atlantis: The Lost Empire film
response
Wednesday, September 28th Film: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Cont’d)
In-Class Assignment: Atlantis: The Lost Empire film
response (Cont’d)
Monday, October 3rd Lecture: Mesopotamian Mythology
Wednesday, October 5th Lecture: The Epic of Gilgamesh
Activity: Cuneiform translation contest
Monday, October 10th Lecture: Egyptian Mythology
Wednesday, October 12th Film: Thebes: Life on the East Bank of the Nile
Monday, October 17th Lecture via Blackboard: Egyptian Funerary Practices &
Embalming
Wednesday, October 19th IMPORTANT: MIDTERM EXAM (Exam #2)
Monday, October 24th Film: Thebes: Death on the West Bank of the Nile
In-Class Assignment: Thebes: Death on the West Bank of the
Nile film response
Wednesday, October 26th Lecture: Greek Mythology
Monday, October 31st Lecture: Homer’s The Odyssey
Film: O, Brother! Where Art Thou?
In-Class Assignment: O, Brother! Where Art Thou? film
response
Wednesday, November 2nd Film: O, Brother! Where Art Thou? (Cont’d)
In-Class Assignment: O, Brother! Where Art Thou? film
response (Cont’d)
Monday, November 7th IMPORTANT: Exam #3

4. Wednesday, November 9th Lecture: Norse Mythology
Monday, November 14th Activity: Tiki mask building Lecture: African Mythology
IMPORTANT: RESEARCH PROJECTS DUE
Wednesday, November 16th Film: The Gods Must Be Crazy
Monday, November 21st Lecture: Hawaiian Mythology
Wednesday, November 23rd THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
Monday, November 28th Lecture: The Three Major World Religions: Part I
Wednesday, November 30th Lecture: The Three Major World Religions: Part II & III
Monday, December 5th IMPORTANT: CULTURAL EVENT DUE
Activity: Final Exam Study Session
Wednesday, December 7th IMPORTANT: FINAL EXAM – 1:30 PM
Guidelines for Written Work
 All written work should be set in Arial 12-point font, with double spacing and standard 1” page
margins.
 Finally, minimum page totals for any written assignment require that the written page be filled in
its entirety to count as one page.
o In other words, if a written assignment requires 2 pages, but the student only writes 1.5, the
student will not earn all possible points for the assignment.
Extra Credit Policy
 Each quiz or test throughout the class’s duration will include one extra credit question equal to
10% of the quiz or test’s total point value (i.e. A five point extra credit question for a fifty point
test).
 In addition, extra credit may be earned by writing more than the required number of pages for any
written assignment. Extra credit for extra written work will be given up to a maximum of 15% of
the assignment’s total point value (i.e. A two-page written assignment is usually valued at 20
total points, at ten points per page. If the student writes 2.2 pages, the student will receive 22
points for the assignment, rather than the standard 20).
 No other extra credit opportunities will be available.
Late Work & Make-Up Policy
 No late work will be accepted.
 No work will be accepted via e-mail.
Class Conduct
Be polite and respect both your fellow classmates and the instructor.

5. Attendance Policy
 Students are expected to attend every class, and attendance will be taken and will count as a
portion of the final grade.
 After the SECOND absence, a student has missed two full weeks of class; a notice of Excessive
Absences may be issued and the student may be withdrawn at the professor’s discretion.
 It is always the student’s responsibility to contact the professor about issues that may lead to
excessive absences.
 It is also the student’s responsibility to arrange to receive class notes or handouts from missed
classes from his or her fellow students; Do not contact the instructor for this information without
contacting your classmates first!
 Please note that there is no such thing as an “Excused Absence” (even with a doctor’s note, death
in the family, etc.) under Valencia’s Attendance Policy.
Academic Honesty
 Plagiarism is intellectual theft and will not be tolerated; presentation of the ideas and words of
others as if they are your own work constitutes plagiarism.
 The student is expected to perform his or her own research and present his or her own thoughts.
Direct use of another author’s words or ideas, as well as paraphrasing must be cited.
 Plagiarism in any work will result in a grade of zero for that assignment.
Computer & Equipment Use
 Use of computers in the Business, IT, and Public Service classrooms at Valencia College is
restricted to those activities designated by the instructor to enhance the class materials; any other
use is strictly forbidden.
 Inappropriate use includes, but is not limited to:
 Use of computer to send E-mail or access Internet sites not specifically assigned in class.
 Use of computer for job, internship, homework or other activities not assigned in class.
 Modifying any hardware or software system configuration or setting.
 Activities not in accordance with the Valencia Student Code of Conduct
 Use of computers in the departmental open lab is limited to those activities involved with
preparing homework or coursework in this department and is subject to the same
restriction as listed above.
 Computer use is remotely monitored; any student using computers inappropriately may be subject
to dismissal from class or banishment from the lab.
Students With Disabilities
 Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a notification
from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor,
preferably during the first two weeks of class.

6.  The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate
documentation of disabilities.
Disclaimer
This outline may be altered, at the instructor’s discretion, during the course of the term; it is the
responsibility of the student to make any adjustments as announced.