MYTHS

A myth is a story with a purpose. It tries to make sense of the

world.  Myths also try to explain the relationship between gods and

humans.

Contain heroes and heroines

Has supernatural (unexplainable by nature) elements

Gods and goddesses

Explains a natural phenomenon

Told orally (spoken)

Not told by one author

WHY DID ANCIENT PEOPLE TELL MYTHS

To help explain the unexplainable

To explain natural phenomenon – lightening, thunder

To tell about their heroes

To explain human nature – why people acted the way

they did

To teach morals and values – THEME!

UNIVERSAL THEME

A message about life that

can be understood by most

cultures.

HERO

In mythology and legend, a man who displays great

courage and strength, celebrated for his bold

exploits, and favored by the gods.

A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of

purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed

his or her life:

A person who worked for the greater good of others

EPIC HERO

The main character or protagonist is heroically larger than life,

often the source and subject of legend or a national hero

The deeds of the hero are presented without favoritism, revealing

his failings as well as his virtues

The gods and lesser divinities play an active role in the outcome

of actions

The action, often in battle, reveals the more-than-human strength

of the heroes as they engage in acts of heroism and courage

LEGEND

Legends are about people and their actions or

deeds. The people lived in more recent times and

are mentioned in history. The stories are told for a

purpose and are based on facts, but they are not

completely true.

Davy Crocket – King of the Wild Frontier

Robin Hood – Robin of Nottingham

Chupacabra

FOLK LITERATURE

a story or legend handed down from

generation to generation usually by oral

retelling and tradition. Folk tales often

explain something that happens in nature

or convey a certain truth about life. Has a

moral.

IN MEDIAS RES

In the middle of things

NARRATIVE POEM

Poem that tells a story

EPIC POEM

Long narrative, poem that tells a story

about the deeds of gods or heroes.

Starts in the middle of the action.

Tends to have catalogs – lists of things.

Invocation to the Muse or other deity

Previous episodes in the story are later told

through flashback.

MUSE

Any one of the nine goddesses

of the arts.

BALLAD

Song-like poem that tells a

story, often dealing with

adventure and romance.

ALLUSION

A reference to a well-known

person, place, or thing.

QUEST

Epic journey upon which the

hero must embark

ORAL TRADITION

The passing of songs,

stories, and poems from

generation to generation by

word of mouth.

ALLITERATION

The repetition of initial

consonant sounds.

ONOMATOPOEIA

Use of words that imitate

sounds.

ARCHETYPE

A character which reoccurs in

literature to be recognizable as

an element of literary

experience. Pattern! Stereotype!

EPIC SIMILE

Elaborate comparison of unlike

subjects.

An extended simile often occurs in

multiple lines enhancing the

comparison of the subject

EPITHET

an adjective or adjective phrase appropriately

qualifying a subject (noun) by naming a key or

important characteristic of the subject.

Brave Batman

Courageous Catwoman

Rosy-fingered Dawn