Mr. Varnell
Creation Essay
The Genesis and Greek creation stories are both similar and different in how they use literary archetypes. Both the Greek and Genesis creation stories utilize the villain archetype. “Cronus swallowed each of his children as they were born’ (Greek Myth ). This proves that Cronus is filling the role of the villain archetype. His lust for power is so great that he selfishly sacrifices his own children to keep the throne. “You don’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.” (Genesis). The serpent tricks the Woman into eating the fruit from the tree God specifically asked her not to eat from. He was being sneaky and smart, he used reverse psychology in a way to get her to disobey god. These examples show both stories using the villain archetype.
The Greek and Genesis creation stories also contrast, with the former having an epic battle and a garden archetype. “ The Cyclopes provided Zeus with lighting bolts for weapons. The Hecatoncheires he set in ambush armed with boulders. With the time right, Zeus retreated drawing the Titans into the Hecatoncheires's ambush. The Hecatoncheires rained down hundreds of boulders with such a fury the Titans thought the mountains were falling on them. They broke and ran giving Zeus victory.” (Greek Myth). Zeus had to finally take on the Titans and he need some help. It was a battle between the big monsters against Zeus and he got the powers he received from the Cyclopes. The Genesis story does not have this, they don’t have the epic battle the Greek Myth has. “Then God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.” (Genesis). God created different varieties of trees, beautiful trees and trees you could eat from. Also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil , which was the tree no one was supposed to eat from. These examples show that they both contrast each other because neither one of the stories has the other, which makes it unique.