1. Myths (Greek) Folktales Fables Legends Fairy Tales Trickster Tales

2. ALL KEEP THE PAST ALIVE REVEAL VALUES OF THE SOCIETY TEACH LESSONS ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR

3. ATTEMPT TO ANSWER BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORLD/ EXPLAIN NATURAL EVENTS (VOLCANOES, LIGHTNING, FIRE,ETC) CONSIDERED TRUTHFUL BY ORIGINATORS(CREATORS OF THE TALES) INVOLVE GOD/GODDESSES (WHILE NEARLY ALL CULTURES SHARE MYTHS)WE WILL FOCUS MOSTLY ON CLASSICAL GREEK MYTHOLOGY AUTHOR’S PURPOSE—TO EXPLAIN/INFORM

4. Author’s Purpose-TO ENTERTAIN Shares the values of the society Features humans or human-like animals COMMON FOLKTALES: -Fairytales – has magical qualities(ex. Fairy godmother) Cinderella -Tall Tale –characters are larger than life-have superhuman abilities (Paul Bunyan, John Henry) -Trickster Tale – character tricks their foe (nemesis) Br’er Rabbit, Native American Coyote tales

5. HAVE CHARACTERS THAT ARE ANIMALS SHORT TALES THAT ILLUSTRATE MORALS MORALS ARE MOST OFTEN STATED DIRECTLY (THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS…) AUTHOR’S PURPOSE-TO EXPLAIN/INFORM

6. BASED ON REAL EVENTS/PEOPLE (HISTORICALLY ACCURATE) CONSIDERED FACTUAL BY THE TELLER PASSES ALONG INFORMATION OFTEN INCLUDES A HERO/HEROINE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE—TOEXPLAIN/INFORM EXAMPLES: -LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW - KING ARTHUR -“ROBIN HOOD” -GHOST STORIES -URBAN LEGENDS -CHAIN LETTERS