World Myths and World Myths and FolktalesFolktales

English IIEnglish II

Myth and FolktalesMyth and Folktales

The world’s oldest The world’s oldest storiesstories

Passed on by word of Passed on by word of mouth from mouth from generation to generation to generationgeneration

These stories have These stories have always been always been important to peopleimportant to people

““There are only two or There are only two or three human stories, and three human stories, and they go on repeating they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as themselves as fiercely as if they had never if they had never happened before” (Willa happened before” (Willa Cather).Cather).

““Myths and folktales Myths and folktales remain vital to modern remain vital to modern readers because they readers because they reveal common truths, reveal common truths, patterns, and themes that patterns, and themes that are familiar to all ages are familiar to all ages and cultures” (5).and cultures” (5).

Myths and folktalesMyths and folktales

Tell about the beginning of thingsTell about the beginning of things Include marvelous or supernatural eventsInclude marvelous or supernatural events Tell of heroic deeds and adventuresTell of heroic deeds and adventures Explain to origins of various rituals that Explain to origins of various rituals that

people followpeople follow Are passed down from generation to Are passed down from generation to

generationgeneration Explain the human experienceExplain the human experience

They tell us in poetic, They tell us in poetic, imaginative terms, the imaginative terms, the most important things we most important things we can communicate to one can communicate to one another: who we are, another: who we are, where we came from, and where we came from, and what we believe inwhat we believe in

““Myth and folktales are in Myth and folktales are in some ways even ‘truer’ some ways even ‘truer’ that history” (Joseph that history” (Joseph Campbell).Campbell).

What is a myth?What is a myth?

An anonymous, An anonymous, traditional story that traditional story that explains a belief, a explains a belief, a custom, or a custom, or a mysterious natural mysterious natural phenomenonphenomenon

Comes from the Comes from the Greek word Greek word muthos, muthos, which means “story”which means “story”

Myths had specific purposes in Myths had specific purposes in their culturetheir culture

To explain the creation of the world and the To explain the creation of the world and the universeuniverse

To explain the human condition: how and why To explain the human condition: how and why people were created, why they are flawed, why people were created, why they are flawed, why there is suffering in the world, why people must there is suffering in the world, why people must eventually die, and what happens to people after eventually die, and what happens to people after they deaththey death

To explain natural phenomenon such as the To explain natural phenomenon such as the setting of the sun and the phases of the moonsetting of the sun and the phases of the moon

To explain the nature of To explain the nature of gods and goddesses and gods and goddesses and how these deities and how these deities and human beings interacthuman beings interact

To explain the meanings To explain the meanings behind religious rituals, behind religious rituals, customs and beliefscustoms and beliefs

To explain historical To explain historical eventsevents

To teach moral lessonsTo teach moral lessons

FolktalesFolktales

Created by the common “folk”Created by the common “folk” Passed along from generation to Passed along from generation to

generationgeneration Include legends, fables, tall tales, fairy Include legends, fables, tall tales, fairy

tales, and ghost storiestales, and ghost stories

The difference between myths and The difference between myths and folktalesfolktales

They are secular (nonreligious)They are secular (nonreligious) Created for entertainment value as well as for Created for entertainment value as well as for

teaching moralsteaching morals They feature magic, transformations just as They feature magic, transformations just as

myths do but gods and goddesses are not the myths do but gods and goddesses are not the central actors in the storycentral actors in the story

Folktale heroes are common, everyday folk Folktale heroes are common, everyday folk without special powerswithout special powers

They are not associated with religious ritualsThey are not associated with religious rituals

Myths are a direct Myths are a direct expression of a expression of a culture’s religious culture’s religious beliefs; folktales are beliefs; folktales are not!!not!!

Archetypes: Archetypes: Hero ArchetypeHero Archetype

A pattern or model that serves as the A pattern or model that serves as the basis for different , but related, versions of basis for different , but related, versions of a character, plot, or themea character, plot, or theme

Archetype: TricksterArchetype: Trickster TricksterTrickster – a character who – a character who

brings something evil or brings something evil or undesirable into the worldundesirable into the world

▫ The The coyotecoyote is a very popular is a very popular trickster archetype, found in trickster archetype, found in many different cultures, many different cultures, especially Native American especially Native American Indian culturesIndian cultures

The snake is another common trickster archetype found in many different world cultures

Tricksters are often (but not always) animal characters

Note: a trickster may or may not be a malicious or purposefully harmful/hurtful character

Archetype: TricksterArchetype: Trickster

Archetype: Significant Archetype: Significant NumbersNumbers

▪ Significant Numbers Significant Numbers – many cultures have – many cultures have significant or important numbers that often significant or important numbers that often reoccur in mythic and folktale storiesreoccur in mythic and folktale stories

▫ Native American Indian cultures often refer to Native American Indian cultures often refer to the number the number fourfour as sacred: four seasons, four as sacred: four seasons, four directions, four elementsdirections, four elements

▫ In the Christian religion, twelve, seven and three are all significant numbers: twelve apostles, seven days of creation, the holy trinity

Archetype: FloodsArchetype: Floods

FloodsFloods – many mythic and folktale stories – many mythic and folktale stories from many different cultures reference a from many different cultures reference a flood, usually a symbol of a new beginning flood, usually a symbol of a new beginning or cleansingor cleansing

Archetype: CharactersArchetype: Characters

CharactersCharacters – stories often have the same – stories often have the same essential character essential character in their protagonist and/or antagonistin their protagonist and/or antagonist

▫ Disney has made a fortune by recreating classic faDisney has made a fortune by recreating classic fables into “fairy tales,” often using the same Princesbles into “fairy tales,” often using the same Princess character as a protagonist; these Disney Princesss character as a protagonist; these Disney Princesses are inherently kind, despite their personal troubes are inherently kind, despite their personal troubles, are searching for love and happiness, and are les, are searching for love and happiness, and are usually rewarded in the end for their caring and kiusually rewarded in the end for their caring and kindness; these Princesses are essentially the same cndness; these Princesses are essentially the same character.haracter.