World Myths and Folktales

Myths and Folktales:

world’s oldest stories, passed on by word of mouth from generation to generation

vital to modern readers/reveal common truths, patterns, and themes familiar to all ages & cultures

explain origin of various rituals and common human experiences

(What are some human experiences/emotions that are universal to all human beings?) T—P--S

Myth—definition

• (myth)—an anonymous, traditional story passed down by word of mouth that explains:

A beliefA customA natural phenomenon

Myths originally functioned as--1.Early science2.Early religion3.Early entertainment

Purposes of Myth

• 1. To explain the creation of the world and universe

• 2. To explain the human condition:How and why people were createdWhy people are flawed (sin and evil)Why there is suffering in the world (sickness, disease,

etc.)Why people must dieWhat happens to people after death

Differences Between Myths and Folktales

Folktales:include

legends fablestall talesfairy talesghost stories

Think-Pair-Share

• Brainstorm examples of the types of folktales from the previous slide.

Folktales…

are secular, or nonreligious.

are created for entertainment as well as for teaching social and moral values.

Folktale heroes vs. Mythic Heroes

Folktale heroes are common, everyday folk who don’t have special powers.

Mythic heroes…superhuman offspring of gods or goddesses and human parents

Folktales

Fairy Tales

Fables

Most important difference between myths and folktales…

myths are a direct expression of a culture’s religious beliefs; folktales are not.

Creation myths/Origin myths• Describe how a culture believes the world and mankind were

created• Often contain archetypal themes• Function as—• 1. Early science• 2. Early religion• 3. Early entertainment

• (archetype)--an original model of a person or character, ideal, example, plot,or prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated

Creation myths/Origin myths (cont.)

•(archetype)--an original model of a person or character, plot, symbol or prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated

Archetypes

• patterns in literature found around the world

* Archetypal Plots

Ex: *Happily-ever-after tales *Rags-to-riches stories

Literary Terms

* Archetypal Characters Ex: *star-crossed lovers *hero *villain *underdog

Literary Terms

*Archetypical Setting: *Eden/paradise *Utopia *Dystopia *”wrong side of the tracks” neighborhood *suburbia

Literary Terms

*Archetypal Themes

Ex: *Love conquers all *Good vs. evil

*Archetypal symbols Ex: numbers as symbols (depends on culture) dove rose colors olive branch

Creation myths/Origin myths (cont.)

• Common archetypal elements in creation myths across cultures include— what exists in the very beginning

creator, often omniscient and involved in the existence of his/her creations

Explanation of natural phenomenon—early science (e.g. how evil came to exist, how death came to be, the reason for thunder and other natural occurances, etc.)