Post on 27-Apr-2018
Activator: Building Blocks
INSTRUCTIONS: Respond to the following
questions, drawing on any previous
knowledge you have about these terms.
What do you think qualifies as a myth?
Provide some examples.
What do you think qualifies as a folktale?
Provide some examples.
Myth: A Definition
A myth is an anonymous, traditional story
that explains varying aspects of a
culture.
The word mythology is Greek in origin
(etymology).
Mythos= story
Logo= speech or argument
Myths often explain the view of a group
of people, and may have represented
religious beliefs at first.
Myths attempt to explain the mysteries of
life.
Cultures that have Myths
Every culture has its own mythology.
Universal symbols and themes appear in different cultures’ myths.
Greek, Roman, Native American, Celtic, South American, African, and Norse mythology are examples of myths from different cultures.
Characteristics of Myths
Contain heroes
and heroines
Characters are
often animals
Supernatural
elements
Told orally
(spoken)
Gods and goddesses
Explain a natural phenomena
Often associated with the religion or
rituals of the culture
The Reasons for Myths
To explain the creation of the world and universe
To explain natural phenomena
To tell about a culture’s heroes
To explain the nature of the culture’s gods and goddesses
To explain human nature
To explain the
meaning behind
religious rituals
To explain
historical events
To teach morals
and values
Origin Myths
An origin myth is a story that
explains how things came to be.
Most cultures have myths that
explain how the universe was
created.
The telling of an origin myth
provided people with a sense of
place in the universe, a sort of
purpose.
Typically, a culture’s pantheon
(family group of gods) is
associated with the creation of the universe.
Usually a powerful “father” god
and “mother” goddess.
Folktales Emerge
Folktales are stories which were created
from the “folk” – the common people.
Folktales arose as myths transformed
over generations.
They were passed along from
generation to generation.
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
Both Myths and Folktales
Both reveal different kinds of truths:
Truths about life
Truths about society
Truths about human nature
By analyzing the following details, you can determine a great deal about the story’s culture of origin:
Language (dialect)
Setting (location and region—sometimes)
Religious beliefs, rituals, and customs
Behavior
Clothing
Food
Summarizer: Error AnalysisOn the following TRUE OR FALSE quiz, two
are answered incorrectly. Which two are
incorrect?
False 1. Every culture has its own mythology.
False 2. Both myths and folktales explain
natural phenomena.
False 3. The three types of folktales are
legends, fairy tales, and epics.
True 4. A myth is an ancient story dealing
with supernatural beings, ancestors, and
heroes.
False 5. Folktales are nonreligious stories.