1. World Myths and Folktales

2. Myths and Folktales world’s oldest stories, passed on by word of
mouth from generation to generation
vital to modern readers b/c they reveal common
truths
patterns
themes familiar to all ages & cultures
explain origin of various rituals and common human experiences

3. Universality of the Human Experience
What are some human experiences/emotions that are universal to all human beings?
Think-pair-share

4. Myth—definition Myths originally functioned as--
(myth)—an anonymous, traditional story passed down by word of mouth that explains--
A belief
A custom
A natural phenomenon
Myths originally functioned as--
Early science
Early religion
Early entertainment

5. Purposes of Myth 1. To explain the creation of the world and universe
2. To explain the human condition
How and why people were created
Why people are flawed (sin and evil)
Why there is suffering in the world (sickness, disease, etc.)
Why people must die
What happens to people after death

6. Folktale--Definition
(folk tale)--a story or legend forming part of an oral tradition.
Folktales--
are part of the oral tradition of a group
are more frequently told than read
are passed down from one generation to another
take on the characteristics of the time and place in which they are told

7. Folktales (cont.) speak to universal and timeless themes
are often about the common person

8. Differences Between Myths and Folktales
include
legends
fables
tall tales
fairy tales
ghost stories

9. Tall Tales

10. Fairy Tales

11. Fables

12. A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements, related as if it were true and factual. Some stories such as these are exaggerations of actual events

13. Think-Pair-Share
Brainstorm examples of the types of folktales from the previous slide.

14. Folktales… are secular, or nonreligious.
are created for entertainment as well as for
teaching social and moral values.

15. 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

16. Most important difference between myths and folktales…
myths are a direct expression of a culture’s religious beliefs; folktales are not.

17. Creation myths/Origin myths
Describe how a culture believes the world and mankind were created

18. Myths and folktales contain archetypal themes
(archetype)--an original model of a person or character, plot, symbol or prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated

19. Archetypes patterns in literature found around the world
* Archetypal Plots
Ex: *Happily-ever-after tales
*Rags-to-riches stories

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

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

22. Literary Terms
*Archetypal Themes Ex: *Love conquers all *Good vs. evil

23. Archetypal symbols
numbers as symbols (depends on culture)
dove
rose
colors
olive branch

24. Archetypes in Creation/Origin Myths
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.)