Myths, Tall Tales, and Legends Unit 6 Review

Myths  Definition – classical story created to explain mysteries of the universe  Explains how something connected with humans or nature came to be  Features gods, goddesses, or things with supernatural powers AND HUMAN FLAWS  Sometimes has the rule of three  Can teach cultural values from that time  EX: Ceres and Prosperpina, Arachne, etc.

What are cultural values? The standards of behavior that a society expects of its people.

Cultural Values in Myths Some values often taught in Greek &Roman myths:  Respecting your elders  Respecting & obeying the gods. The gods are often involved in human lives.  Knowing your place

Tall Tales  Definition – Humorous story about events and characters that are exaggerated  Features a character that is more extraordinary than a regular person  Uses hyperboles (over exaggeration) to tell the story  EX: Uncle Septimus’s Beard, Paul Bunyan, etc.

Legends  Definition – traditional story believed to be based on real people and events  Tells about a hero with special powers or abilities  Describes the hero’s struggle against a powerful force  Can teach cultural values from that time  EX: Chenoo, Robin Hood

Cultural Values in Legends  Loyal  Honest  Heroic

Universal Theme  A message that is meaningful to people in any culture and in any time.