1. Myths, Legends, Folk Tales, and Fables
Why we write and tell stories

2. Myths Attempt to answer basic questions about the world.
Stories that people make up to explain the origin of living things, the workings of nature or a basic truth.
Considered truthful by their originators.
Most common is a “Why” myth.
And “Lesson” myths – a story with a moral.
Most involve gods, goddesses or other supernatural being.
The gods take on some ordinary human qualities or feelings. (jealousy or anger)

3. Folk Tales Told primarily for entertainment.
Feature humans or human-like animals.
Typically have some grain of truth to them.

4. Fables Short tales that illustrate morals.
Have characters that are animals.

5. Legends – Oral History Based on real events
Considered factual by the teller
Passes along information

6. Influences Literature Created Oral Tradition Music Arts
Common archetypes
Created Oral Tradition
Read for their appeal as much as for their beauty and interest.
Music
Communicate the origin of music
Arts
Inspired great painters and sculpters
Links to the past
Clues to the thoughts of ancient man.
Language
Many word origins can be traced to these stories.
Atlas is a famous Titan who held the world on his shoulders. Therefore the word “atlas” means a book of maps.

7. And many, many more!!!! Examples American American Indian
Paul Bunyan
Brother Coyote and Brother Cricket
Pecos Bill
Jack Henry
How the North Wind Lost his Hair
Greek and Roman
Why the Woodpecker Pecks
Odysseus
Jason and the Argonauts
Why Arrows Have Feathers
Prometheus
Hercules
African
Medusa
Brear Rabbit
Theseus and the Minotaur
Athena
European
And many, many more!!!!
St. Nicolas
Loch Ness Monster
King Arthur
Abominable Snowman
Blackbeard’s Ghost