1. What conclusions can you draw from the many themes shared by sacred myths? 2. What evidence is there that the myths of a world flood may be based on a historic event?

3. Why is comparative mythology important to the study of myths?

4. The cultural anthropologist Dr. Jamie Tehrani traced the story of Little Red Riding Hood back to a common ancestor over 2,600 years old. Why do you think the structure stayed the same even though he found so many variations and differences in story elements?

5. Evil is often described in myths as entering the world after creation rather than being a part of it. Why do you think evil is not portrayed as an original part of creation?

The harlem renaissance dawned in an era of pervasive racism and segregation. although legally "free," many african americans were still bound by ideas that had their roots in the slavery of earlier centuries. identity and freedom are important ideas presented in many of the poems from the harlem renaissance. furthermore, the values of identity and freedom are not unique to particular times and places. as hughes expresses in "dream variations," all humans want to be able to develop their identities in freedom. what role does freedom play in the poems you read in this unit? what is required of a society to enable each individual to be true to his or her identity and be free to live by that identity? write about at least three of the poems, describing how the poet uses imagery to depict freedom and identity, the lack of it, or the desire for it.