Myths, Legends, Tall Tales stories? - Dearborn …...Myths, Legends, Tall Tales “Handed down by...
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Myths, Legends, Tall Tales “Handed down by word of mouth and later recorded in writing, these stories do more than entertain. They help us to understand and appreciate other times and cultures.” Why do we tell stories? Some stories are told to entertain, while others teach us a lesson. Many stories are told year after year to pass on cultural values and traditions from one generation to the next. Myth Classical story created to explain mysteries of the universe ● Often explains how something connected with humans or nature came to be ● Usually features gods, goddesses, and other beings with supernatural powers as well as human flaws ● Come from many cultures; Greece and Rome, Native Americans ● Sometimes have animal characters with human qualities Legend Traditional story believed to be based on real people and events ● Tells about a hero or heroine with special powers and admirable qualities ● Describes the hero’s or heroine’s struggle against a powerful force
Transcript of Myths, Legends, Tall Tales stories? - Dearborn …...Myths, Legends, Tall Tales “Handed down by...
Myths, Legends, Tall Tales
“Handed down by word of mouth and later recorded in writing, these stories do more than entertain. They help us to understand and appreciate
other times and cultures.”
Why do we tell stories?
Some stories are told to entertain, while others teach us
a lesson.
Many stories are told year after year to pass on cultural values
and traditions from one generation to the next.
Myth Classical story created to explain mysteries of the universe
● Often explains how something connected with humans or nature came to be
● Usually features gods, goddesses, and other beings with supernatural powers as well as human flaws
● Come from many cultures; Greece and Rome, Native Americans
● Sometimes have animal characters with human qualities
LegendTraditional story believed to be based on real people and events
● Tells about a hero or heroine with special powers and admirable qualities
● Describes the hero’s or heroine’s struggle against a powerful force
Tall TaleHumorous story about events and characters that are exaggerated
● Often features a character who is “larger than life”—stronger, louder, or more extraordinary than a regular person
● Uses hyperboles—figures of speech that use exaggeration for effect: “My dog weighs a ton.”
Characters in myths, tall tales, or folk tales are usually familiar characters that represent at least one human trait.
Can you name well-known characters
from myths and tall tales?
Key Human Qualities Character Human Quality
1. Hercules (Greek/Roman)
2. Paul Bunyan (American)
3. Odysseus (Greek)
4. Anansi (West Africa)
5. Raven (Native American)
1. Strength
2. Strength
3. Cleverness/perseverance
4. cleverness
5. cleverness
Since traditional stories have no known author, their purpose lies in why the story was often retold and what people got out of listening to it.
● What is the purpose of ○ Myths?○ Legends?○ Tall Tales?
Since traditional stories have no known author, their purpose lies in why the story was often retold and what people got out of listening to it.
● what is the purpose of ○ Myths: to explain the beginning of the natural
world and it's mysteries; to entertain○ Legends?○ Tall Tales?
Since traditional stories have no known author, their purpose lies in why the story was often retold and what people got out of listening to it.
● what is the purpose of ○ Myths: to explain the beginning of the natural
world and it's mysteries; to entertain○ Legends? to inspire people; to entertain○ Tall Tales?
Since traditional stories have no known author, their purpose lies in why the story was often retold and what people got out of listening to it.
● what is the purpose of ○ Myths: to explain the beginning of the natural
world and it's mysteries; to entertain○ Legends? to inspire people; to entertain○ Tall Tales? to entertain
