Post on 15-Jan-2016
FOLKTALES, MYTHS, AND LEGENDS
Folklore and Traditional Literature
Folklore consists of a people group (or “folk”) and all of its accumulated facts (“lore”) including: traditional customs, beliefs, knowledge, values, and attitudes of the ordinary people.
Folk + Lore = Folklore
A folk's lore is communicated by word of mouth until it is transcribed (written down); this is called “oral tradition.” Before people groups had written languages, oral tradition was the only means of preserving the history of a people and its culture.
TRADITIONAL LITERATURE
Folktales, myths, and legends are only one part (the literary part) of a folk's lore. Folktales are a society's narratives, stories, and literature. They are the stories that have been handed down from generation to generation.
Beliefs
Facts
values
myths
legends
The science of folklore was born when collectors ("folklorists") began collect-ing items to preserve the lore and his-tory of various people groups. The birth of this science began in the early 19th century and is most often attributed to the Brothers Grimm, known best for their collection of what are now well-known fairy tales: Red Riding Hood, Snow-White, Hansel & Gretel, Rapunzel, etc.
EXAMPLES OF FOLKLORE
How do you cure the hiccups?
What do you do at a birthday party?
What is done with the bride’s bouquet at a
wedding?
How can you “magically” predict the
gender of an unborn baby?
EXAMPLES OF FOLKLORE
H
ow do you make s’mores (“somemores”)?
H
ow do you build a snowman?
W
hat do you say when you smile for a picture?
WHAT IS A FOLK TALE?
A folk tale is a story
with no known author
that usually teaches a
lesson. Examples of
American folktales
include: Brer Rabbit,
Paul Bunyan, Three
Billy Goats Gruff, etc.
A myth is a story that
usually explains something
about the world and involves
gods and other superhuman
beings. Examples include:
Medusa’s Head, Prometheus
Bringer of Fire, Iliad &
Odyssey
WHAT IS A MYTH?
WHAT IS A LEGEND?
A legend is a story
often believed to be
true and in which the
characters are usually
considered historical by
some. Examples include
Robin Hood, King
Arthur, and Pecos Bill.
MOTIFS IN TRADITIONAL LITERATURE
A motif is a recurring thematic element. lt is the smallest element in a tale having the power to persist in tradition. ln order to have this power, it must have something unusual or striking or universal about it.
SOME COMMON MOTIFS:
M
agical powers
T
ransformation
Making a deal with the devil
Wishes
Trickery
THREE WAYS MOTIFS APPEAR IN LITERATURE:
Characters
Example: The "underdog" brother (or
sister), Prince Charming, the damsel in
distress, etc.
THREE WAYS MOTIFS APPEAR IN LITERATURE:
Plot lncident
Examples: The magic kiss, the long sleep,
the journey, the difficult task, etc.
THREE WAYS MOTIFS APPEAR IN LITERATURE:
Objects
Examples: Hair, ring, water, magic cooking
pot, flying carpets, etc.
VoiceThread Questions
Do to-day’s youngpeopletellstories?
Dochildrenstillenjoyhearingstories?
Do youthinkthese people are telling stories orjust goofing around & partying?
Is this story tell-ing? Why or why not? How doesit differfrom faceto facestory tell-ing?
What about myths…folktales…
legends…
As a culture, do we still believe them?
Tell them? Pass them on to other
generations? Should we? Why do we
or don’t we?
What about…?
“Myths are stories, and we find meaning
in our lives through the stories we tell.
Myths are not true or untrue—they're
living or dead.”--Phil Cousineau
Once & Future Myths
DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE? WHY?...
WE FIND MEANING…WE TELL STORIES…
“Myths are stories and
we find meaning in our
lives through the stories
we tell.”