Creationele

Creationele is a neologism used in the study of myths and narrative theory to denote the smallest functional unit of a creation narrative—the building block that performs a specific act within the story of origin. The term blends creation with element and is used primarily in comparative mythology and speculative worldbuilding. By focusing on function rather than form, creationeles can be realized across cultures as distinct events, agents, or actions such as emergence, separation, ordering, naming, or blessing.

Etymology and scope: The term emerged in scholarly and writing communities in the early 21st century as a way to discuss recurring creation motifs without presuming a fixed sequence. A creationele is not a plot point itself but a role fulfilled by an event, character, or performed act.

Usage and examples: In analysis, researchers catalog creationeles to compare how different traditions resolve similar problems—how light is produced, how order emerges from chaos, how boundaries are set. In worldbuilding, authors use the concept to design cohesive creation myths by selecting and arranging creationeles to form a plausible sequence.

Reception: Critics note that creationele is still informal and not universally adopted; it risks overlap with established terms such as motif, archetype, or narrative function. Some scholars argue for clearer criteria and boundaries to prevent overgeneralization.

See also: Creation myth; Motif; Archetype; Narrative function; Worldbuilding. Further reading: As a relatively new term, creationele discussions appear in introductory texts on myth studies and narrative theory that engage with motifs and creation sequences.