Oral Traditions

Leach 10th grade HERO UNIT

Long before it was written down, literature was part of the ORAL TRADITION, the passing on of narratives and sayings by word of mouth. Stories lightened work and sweetened leisure, and people exchanged tales while doing chores or sitting around campfires.

Storytellers, expressing what fascinated or moved them, explored UNIVERSAL THEMES, ideas about life shared by many cultures: for example, the value of friendship and the need for courage.

In telling their tales, people naturally used ARCHETYPES, the characters, situations, images, and symbols that appear in the narratives of many different cultures.

Common Archetypal Characters and IdeasThe Wise and Virtuous King, whose reign

brings in a GOLDEN AGE, or a time of peace and prosperity.

Common Archetypal Characters and IdeasThe Dreamer, a character who imagines new

possibilities and defies danger to bring an important gift to society.

Common Archetypal Characters and IdeasThe Hero, who is an uncompromising youth

but who blossoms into a wise, strong, and courageous leader.

Common Archetypal Characters and IdeasThe idea of a struggle between the

PROTAGONIST (the main character) and the ANTAGONIST (a person or force that opposes the protagonist).

Common Archetypal Characters and Ideas The presentation of these archetypes might vary

depending on the HISTORICAL CONTEXT, the social and cultural background of the storyteller and the audience. Yet, the presence of archetypes in different times and places suggests that they arise from our common humanity. Some scholars even believe that archetypal patterns express truths about the human mind and unconscious.

Forms that express ArchetypesAnonymous storytellers developed recognizable forms

as they built narratives from archetypal patterns. At first, these narrative forms lived only in the memory and therefore might be recited in many different versions.

Forms that express ArchetypesLater, as stories were written, their content was fixed

and the idea of an individual author emerged.

Archetypes are found in . . .

Mythsare works that explain the actions of gods and the human who interact with them. They may also explain the causes of natural phenomena.

Archetypes are found in . . . Folk Tales & Fairy

TalesFolk Tales: focus on human or animal heroes.Fairy Tales: Are a kind a folk tale recounting the adventures of spirits who appear as very small humans

1. Usually the main character in myths, fables or folktales

2. Personified animals that were considered intelligent or crafty by the local people

3. Rebel against any kind of authority or social tradition

4. Not necessarily evil, but more mischievous

5. They are clever, curious, creative, but their selfishness and mischief get them into trouble

Tricksters

TrickstersPopular trickster animals:Coyote, fox, rabbit, & raven in North

America and EuropeSpider and tortoise in AfricaMonkey in Asia

Examples of Modern TrickstersBugs BunnyFerris BuellerWyle E. CoyoteTom in Tom and JerrySylvester (Tweetie)

Archetypes are found in . . . LegendsWhich are traditional stories about the past that are usually based on historical fact.

Archetypes are found in . . . Epicsare long narrative poems about a larger-than-life epic hero. The epic hero’s career is important to the history of a group.

ODYSSEUS

Archetypes are found in . . . Parodies

A humorous mockery, of an archetypal pattern.

Each of these forms. . . expresses the values, or model

behaviors, cherished by a society. Cultural details in a narrative relate to the beliefs and

customs that give a particular group its identity, or sense of self.

Oral Traditions

Aborigines http://

app.discoveryeducation.com/search?Ntt=oral+traditions

Iroquois Storytelling http://

app.discoveryeducation.com/search?Ntt=oral+traditions

Native Americans http://

education-portal.com/academy/lesson/native-american-oral-tradition-heritage-and-literary-influence.html#lesson