1. Myths and Folktales- Warmup Notes 1/16- Grab your journal and a handout from the laptop cart

2. Myth: A Definition
A myth is an anonymous, traditional story that explains varying aspects of a culture. Universal symbols and themes appear in different cultures’ myths.

3. Characteristics of Myths
Contain heroes, heroines, gods, and goddesses.
Characters are often animals
Supernatural elements
Told orally (spoken)

4. The Reasons for Myths To teach morals and values
To explain:
the creation of the world
natural phenomena
nature of the culture’s gods and goddesses
human nature
views of a group of people
religious beliefs and meaning behind rituals
mysteries of life
Historical events
To teach morals and values
To tell about a culture’s heroes

5. Origin Myths
An origin myth is a story that explains how things came to be.
Ex. Coyote and the Origin of Death

6. Folktales

7. Folktale: A Definition
Folktales are stories that are passed along from one generation to the next by word-by- mouth
They were created from the “folk” – the common people.

8. Characteristics of Folktales
Nonreligious stories
Meant for entertaining, but also for teaching values
Feature magic, transformations, enchantments, and gods and goddesses, but they are not the center of the story
Heroes are common, everyday folk without special powers
Are not associated with rituals

9. Types of Folktales There are three types of folktales: Legends
Fairy Tales
Fables

10. Legend: A Definition
A legend is a story about extraordinary deeds, based to some extent on fact.
Some familiar examples would include the following:
King Arthur
Johnny Appleseed
Robin Hood

11. Fairy Tale: A Definition
A fairy tale features supernatural elements such as spirits, talking animals, and magic.
Some familiar examples would include the following:
Little Red Riding Hood
Cinderella
Beauty and the Beast

12. Fable: A Definition
A fable is a very brief story that teaches a moral or a practical lesson about life.
The characters of a fable are most often personified animals.
Some familiar examples would include all of Aesop’s Fables, like The Tortoise and the Hare.

13. Closer: True/False Quiz
1. Every culture has its own mythology. 2. Both myths and folktales explain natural phenomena. 3. The three types of folktales are legends, fairy tales, and epics. 4. A myth is an ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, and heroes. 5. Folktales are nonreligious stories.
Alternate summarizer if there isn’t time for the making a quiz activity.