Unit 1

World Myths and Folktales

Myths and folktales are important in every
world culture. A society without stories about
its beginnings, its heroes, and its deepest
values is like a person without a name or a
family without roots.

What is a myth?
Stories about beginnings
an anonymous, traditional story that
explains a belief, custom, or a mysterious
natural phenomenon.
Myth comes from the Greek root muthos,
which means story.

7 Functions of a Myth
#1
To explain the creation
of the world and
universe.

 #2
To explain the human
condition: How and
why people were
created, why they are
flawed, why there is
still suffering in the
world, why people
must eventually die,
and what happens to
people after death

 #3
To explain natural
phenomena, such as
the setting of the sun
and phases of the
moon.

 #4
To explain the nature
of gods and
goddesses and how
these deities and
human beings interact.

 #5
To explain the
meanings behind
religious rituals,
customs and beliefs.

 #6
To explain Historical
events.
(Think: The Trojan
War)

 #7
To teach moral
lessons
How should people
behave? What is right
and wrong?

What is a Folktale?
A Folktale is a story that is created by the
folk- the common people- and passed
along orally from generation to generation.

Oral Tradition
Oral Tradition is the
practice of telling and
retelling tales that
passed down to each
new generation.

Examples of Folktales
Folktales include:

Legends
Fables
Tall Tales
Fairy Tales
Ghost Stories

Folktales Differ from Myths

#1
Unlike Myths, Folktales
are secular.

 #2
Were created as much
for entertainment value
as for the teaching of
social or moral values.

 #3
Folktales feature
magic, transformation
and enchantments,
just as myths do. But
although folktales
features gods and
goddesses as
characters, they are
not usually the central
characters in the story.

 #4
Folktale heroes tend to
be common, everyday
folk who dont have
special powers, unlike
mythic heroes who are
the superhuman
offspring of
gods/goddesses and
human parents.

 #5
Folktales are not
associated with
religious rituals.

What is an Origin Myth?

Origin Myths are
stories that explain
how things came to be.

Origin Myths are used to explain

1) How was the world created?

2) Why do people die?
3) Is there life after death?
4) Why is evil allowed to exist in the world?
5) How did various animals, plants and
geographical features come to be?
(We still are searching for answers to these
questions today)

The Roles of Gods and Goddesses

Gods and Goddesses play dual roles, they
can create or DESTROY!
Pantheons are family groups of Gods and
Goddesses. (Egyptians, Greeks, Romans)

What is an Archetype?
An Archetype is a recurring pattern/model
within a story such as a theme, character,
plot or image.

Examples: The prophet, the hero, the

damsel in distress

Purpose of Origin Myths

Origin myths answer
the hows and whys of
human exsistence.

Define: Motif
Recurring story features
Example: the earth diver motif an animal is
sent to the depths of the ocean to recover soil.
Example: the turtle motif recurring positive
figure in North America and Asia.
Example: the woman falling from the sky