Myths, Legends, Fables, Myths, Legends, Fables, Tall Tales, Fairy Tales Tall Tales, Fairy Tales

and Dramaand DramaMrs. AbdullahMrs. Abdullah

January, 2012January, 2012

Myth-DefinitionMyth-Definition

A cultural and ancient story dealing with A cultural and ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serve as a fundamental type in the that serve as a fundamental type in the worldview of a group of people; It explains worldview of a group of people; It explains aspects of the natural world or delineates aspects of the natural world or delineates the psychology, customs, or ideals of the psychology, customs, or ideals of societysociety

Myth CharacteristicsMyth Characteristics

• A cultural story with an unknown origin A cultural story with an unknown origin which offers an explanation of the which offers an explanation of the natural world (and how it came to be). natural world (and how it came to be).

• Characters are often non-human – e.g. Characters are often non-human – e.g. gods, goddesses, supernatural beings, gods, goddesses, supernatural beings, first people. first people.

• Setting is a previous world (somewhat Setting is a previous world (somewhat like ours but somewhat different). like ours but somewhat different).

• Events that bend or break natural laws Events that bend or break natural laws

Characteristics of MythsCharacteristics of Myths

1.1. Functional: “Agreement for social action” – Functional: “Agreement for social action” – express how to live: assumptions, values, express how to live: assumptions, values, core meanings of individuals, families, core meanings of individuals, families, communities. communities.

2.2. Reflect and determines the basis of dualities: Reflect and determines the basis of dualities: light/dark, good/bad, being/nothingness, light/dark, good/bad, being/nothingness, raw/cooked, etc.; that we must reconcile. Dualities raw/cooked, etc.; that we must reconcile. Dualities often mediated by characters in myths. often mediated by characters in myths.

3.3. Narrative that explains... Myths seek to answer, Narrative that explains... Myths seek to answer, “Why are we here?” “Who are we?” “What is our “Why are we here?” “Who are we?” “What is our purpose?” etc. – life’s fundamental questions. purpose?” etc. – life’s fundamental questions.

4.4. May have a religious basis to the explanation of May have a religious basis to the explanation of beliefbelief

advanced

Legend DefinedLegend Defined

A legend is an unverifiable story or tale that A legend is an unverifiable story or tale that is passed from one generation to the next; is passed from one generation to the next; it is it is believedbelieved to be historical due to its to be historical due to its traditional use; but is categorized as being traditional use; but is categorized as being non-historical.non-historical.

Characteristics of LegendsCharacteristics of Legends

A A non-historicalnon-historical; accepted as historical ; accepted as historical because it is handed down from earlier timesbecause it is handed down from earlier timesUnverifiableUnverifiable story (difficult to confirm) story (difficult to confirm)Similar to a myth; but takes place during Similar to a myth; but takes place during times when humans existedtimes when humans existedModern legend tells of a person who does Modern legend tells of a person who does extraordinary deeds in his/her lifetimeextraordinary deeds in his/her lifetime

Characteristics Characteristics continuedcontinued

Heroes are fictional heroes or real people Heroes are fictional heroes or real people whose deeds aren’t quite what they’re made whose deeds aren’t quite what they’re made out to be--exaggeratedout to be--exaggeratedHeroes/legends are so lifelike or so Heroes/legends are so lifelike or so admirable that people wished they were realadmirable that people wished they were real May contain a moral or lesson (similar to May contain a moral or lesson (similar to fable)fable)told in order to uphold the values of the told in order to uphold the values of the communitycommunityoften involve supernatural occurrences or often involve supernatural occurrences or religious elementsreligious elements

Well Known LegendsWell Known Legends

King ArthurKing Arthur

Rip Van WinkleRip Van Winkle

The Headless HorsemanThe Headless Horseman

Babe RuthBabe Ruth

Paul BunyanPaul Bunyan

John HenryJohn Henry

Johnny AppleseedJohnny Appleseed