1. What is a LEGEND?

2. Billy the Kid: Outlaw Legend

3. Billy the Kid: Outlaw Legend
Here is how the legend is told:

4. Billy the Kid: Outlaw Legend
Billy the Kid is known as one of the most ruthless killers in history.
Legend has it that he killed 21 men in his short life of 21 years - that’s one man for each year of his life.
Billy the Kid met up with a gang called “The Boys” after he ran away from home and headed out west. He found himself caught in the Lincoln County War in New Mexico.

5. Billy the Kid: Outlaw Legend
He killed his first man, a bully named Frank Cahill, when he was just 12 years old.
Legend has it that he killed for the enjoyment of it – loved to see his victims kick.
Billy the Kid was wanted and apprehended and sentenced to death; but he managed to escape on April 28, 1881.

6. Billy the Kid: Outlaw Legend
Billy the Kid was finally gunned down on July 14, 1881, by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
There was an old man who claimed to be Billy the Kid years later, but most feel that story is untrue.
People today are still fascinated by this legendary figure and continue to debate the truth about the man.

7. So, what is a LEGEND?

8. LEGEND
A “legend” is a story from the past about a subject that was, or is believed to have been, historical.
Legends concern people, places, and events.
A legend is always associated with a particular place and a particular time in history.

9. LEGEND
Often the legend is romanticized, growing in scope until the figure appears larger than life in the retelling.
Are you a legend in your own mind?

10. LEGEND So, how is a legend different from a myth or folktale?
Myths and folktales are narratives that are NOT based on fact.

11. Beowulf
LEGEND

12. Paul Bunyan
NOT A LEGEND

13. Zeus
NOT A LEGEND

14. Robin Hood
LEGEND

15. Blackbeard
LEGEND

16. King Kong
NOT A LEGEND

17. King Arthur
LEGEND

18. Billy the Kid
LEGEND

19. Myths Across Cultures
Myths are traditional stories that unfold the world view of a group of people, their customs, and their beliefs.
Myths explain the mysteries of life.
Myths explore supernatural characters each with distinct powers and weaknesses.

20. Native American Myth “The First Fire”
In the beginning of the world, there was no fire. The animal people were often cold. Only the Thunders, who lived in the world beyond the sky arch, had fire. At last they sent Lightning down to an island. Lightning put fire into the bottom of a hollow sycamore tree Everyone that could fly or could swim was eager to go after the fire . . .
At last Water Spider said that she would go “But you are so little, how will you carry enough fire?" the council asked.
"I'll manage all right," answered Water Spider. "I can spin a web." [S]o she spun a thread from her body and wove it into a little bowl and fastened the little bowl on her back. Then she crossed over to the island and through the grass. She put one little coal of fire into her bowl and brought it across to the people.
Every since, we have had fire. And the Water Spider still has her little bowl on her back. (Excerpt)

21. Japanese Myth “Amaterasu”
Amaterasu was the Sun goddess of the old Japanese religion called Shinto. When her brother Susanowo treated her badly, she hid in the cave of heaven and closed the entrance with an enormous stone. This made the world dark, and evil spirits came out of their hiding places.
In despair, a conference of the gods decided to trick Amaterasu into coming out by having a party near the cave. They put a big mirror in front of the cave and beautiful jewels on a tree. Uzume, the goddess of laughter, began a dance accompanied by loud music.
Hearing the music and laughter, Amaterasu was so curious that she took a look outside to find out what was going on. She was so fascinated by her own brilliant reflection in the mirror that she came out of the cave. Finally, the light covered and colored the world.

22. Greek/Roman Myth “Pegasus”
Pegasus was a winged horse that came out of Medusa when she was be-headed by Perseus. The Gordon Medusa was once a beautiful Lybian princess. Because she was seduced by the sea god Poseidon in the temple consecrated to Athena, Athena transformed her into a monster. She had hair of serpents and anyone who looked at her face was turned into stone.
After his birth, Pegasus lived on the Mount Helicon. One day, an ancient Greek hero whose name was Bellerophon believed that he could fly with Pegasus to Olympus, where the gods lived. To prevent him from doing that, Zeus sent a horsefly to bite Pegasus. Bellerophon lost control of his horse and fell back to Earth.
Pegasus continued to fly alone and reached Olympus, where Zeus received him. Since then, he transports thunderbolts for Zeus, who placed his figure in the night sky in the constellation of the winged horse.

23. Quote
“Myth and falsehood are not synonymous. What is truth to one is fancy to another; however, it is not up to any of us to decide that one community's mythology is any more or less valid than another's. Myth is a positive force that unites many cultures rather than divides them. Throughout the world myths provide people with explanations, histories, role models, entertainment, and many other things that enable them to direct their own actions and understand their own surroundings”.

24. Native American Literature
Oral tradition, myths, and symbols

25. Why Native American Myths?
Native American Myths indirectly teaches the values, ideals, and customs of a particular culture

26. What are myths about? Creation Natural phenomena Origins of humans
Customs
Events beyond control
Institutions of religious rites of people

27. Important terms to know
Origin myths- explain how life began and traditional stories passed down from generation to generation. They explain phenomena such as customs, religious rites, or events beyond control

28. Oral traditions
Stories, poems and songs convey a people’s values, concerns, and history by word of mouth

29. Cultural details
While reading, notice references to objects, animals, or practices that show how the people of a culture live, think, or worship.

30. Background Information on the Puritans
Finding Freedom?

31. Who were the Puritans? From England
Struggled for years to purify the church of England
Influences
Martin Luther who believed men are inherently evil and God is omnipotent
John Calvin who believed in predestination-belief that your afterlife has already been determined before birth
Believed in original sin, the consequences of sin, and that man sinning was inevitable because of Adam and Eve’s sin
Believed that hard work leads them to virtue
Feared wrath of God and His divine providence in their lives, both physical and eternal

32. Why did the Puritans seek permanent settlement in the Colonies?
Many suffered from physical religious persecution
Physical mutilation-noses slit, ears cut, burnings
Thrown in jail
Freedom to practice religion
Sought to simplify and purify the church
Model directly after God’s word
Create a “new Eden”
No intermediary between the individual and God

33. Characteristics of Puritan Literature
Diaries and histories important because they were records of workings of God
Saw direct connections between Biblical events and their own lives
Written in plain style- way of writing that emphasizes simple sentences and the use of every day words from common speech

34. Credits
Information about Billy the Kid:
Author: Ms. Marcelle Brothers,
Co-founder of the Billy the Kid Historic Preservation Society
Song: “Billy 1”
Album: Soundtrack - Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
Artist: Bob Dylan
Beowulf Image:
Paul Bunyan Image:
Zeus Image:
Robin Hood Image:
Blackbeard Image:
King Kong Image:
King Arthur Image:
Billy the Kid Image (2):
PowerPoint Presentation created by Nancy Reeb (with the kind assistance of James Yang) for the Legend of GSU TEEMS. June 2005.

35. Resources
(What is a myth?)
(What is mythology?)
(Native American Image)
(The First Fire Excerpt)
(Goddess of Amaterasu Image/Myth) Courtesy of Corel corporation.
(Pegasus Image/Myth) Courtesy of Corel corporation.