1. World Myths And Folktales

2. Early man was very similar to young children today…without answers to questions, they created their own “stories” in order to make sense of the wonders of the world they perceived.

4. THE WORLD'S OLDEST STORIES
MYTHS:
THE WORLD'S OLDEST STORIES
From the Greek word muthos, "story"
Origins are uncertain because they are anonymous, generated and perpetuated by cultures through an oral tradition
Not intended to be recorded history of events, but of a people and culture, values, and beliefs.

5. Specific Characteristics of Myths

6. Explain the origins of the universe and life
Explain a natural phenomenon, why the sky is blue, what are stars
Explain the human condition such as flaws, suffering, death
Explain these elements through the involvement of a pantheon of deities (gods and goddesses), providing a system of religious beliefs and practices
Explain historical events
Teach morality
Passed along by leaders and priests

7. Folktales Stories told by common people
Purpose was primarily entertainment
Sometimes taught cultural values and behaviors
Served to inspire the ordinary person
Forms of folktales—legends, fairytales, fables, yarns

8. Specific
Characteristics of Folktales

9. Stories told by the “folk” or common people
Passed along from generation to generation
Unlike myths, folktales are secular, not associated with religious rituals and beliefs.
Often serve as entertainment, but teach social rituals or behaviors
Folk heroes tend to be common people without magical powers.
Stories often include magical creatures, not gods and goddesses.
Help people believe that even ordinary folk can become great (inspirational)

10. Legends: stories that arise from historical figures or events
Tall tales may involve real people, but the details are grossly exaggerated for a humorous effect.
Fables: stories featuring talking animals that teach a moral lesson

11. Folk wisdom includes cures, superstitions, and predictions.
Fairy Tales are folk stories involving magic.
Urban legends are stories that have arisen about everyday events in modern life.

13. a direct expression of a culture's religious beliefs.
Myths are
a direct expression of a culture's religious beliefs.
Folktales are
a direct expression of a culture's values and behavioral expectations.

14. Origin Myths & Archetypes Stories of how events, actions, or objects
came to exist, featuring common archetypes found universally in myths from around the world.
Archetype: a pattern or model that serves as the basis for different but related versions of a character, plot, or theme.

15. Familiar archetypes of origin myths
Creator figure
Water
Golden Age
Trickster
Talking animals
Sibling rivals
Fall from grace / loss of paradise
Great destruction
Earth diver
Sibling mates
Female earth
Creation from body parts
"Perfect numbers" -
2, 3, 4, 7, 12

16. Archetype Seen in:
Fall from grace Adam and Eve
Gilgamesh
Jurassic Park
Trickster the serpent
Bugs Bunny Q
Great Destruction the Flood
Terminator II

17. Origin myths give people a sense of their place in the universe:
who they are,
where they come from,
what their destiny will be.