Evolution

of Man
Creativity

Thought

Philosophy
 MYTH:
 An anonymous story that presents
supernatural episodes as a means of
interpreting natural events.
 Myths make concrete that which seems

abstract … an explanation of events that

seem to have to NO explanation.
 Myths possess startlingly similar motifs,

characters, and action.

Zeus & Apollo
Prometheus
Dracula
 LEGEND:
 A narrative tradition handed down from
the past.
 Different than a myth because there
seems to be some sort of historical truth.
 Also different than a myth in that there is
less of the supernatural.
 Legends often indicate the lore of a
people … serve to create a national spirit.
King Arthur & Robin Hood
DRACULA
FOLK TALE:
 Deals more with a specific person rather
than an event.
 Stills deals with the supernatural, but

does not have any historical basis.

 Folk tales often teach simple life skills …

how to survive, how to sense danger,

how to overcome adversity.
 Johnny
Appleseed
ORAL TRADITION:
 The transmission of material by word of
mouth and memory.
 Many tales in the oral tradition started as
songs/ballads and were sung in the retelling.
 Oral tradition was a means to tell stories to
those who were illiterate & uneducated.
 Oral tradition tales generally have
undergone numerous changes over the
years and may now exist in multiple forms.
 FUNCTION OF MYTHS
 Why are there rainbows?
 What causes thunder?

 Why does the ground tremble?

These basic question, which science has

now clearly explained, needed to be
answered … myths were that answer.
MYTH’S VALUE
 Outside of the obvious need to explain
events in nature and the world at large
… myths other function was to entertain.
 Myths were filled with adventure &

excitement … they could be retold a

thousand times and each time retold
differently.
 NORSE QUESTIONS:

 According to the myth, what did the world

look like before the giants children?
 How is the new world different from the

world of the giants?

 How are the giants and the gods similar?

Different?
 NORSE QUESTIONS 2

 Besides the creation of the world, what else

does the myth explain? Pick THREE.
 Myths reflect the society that creates them.
What seems to be important to the Norse
society?
 Do you think ice is an important part of the
myth? WHY?
 HOMEWORK due 12/14
1. Close read “The Beginning of the
World” GREEK MYTH … 3 comments
per page.
2. Answer questions provided on back of
paper.