The world’s oldest stories

*Myths and Folktales

*Myth

Myth: an anonymous, traditional story that explains a belief, a custom, or a mysterious natural phenomenon.

The word myth comes from the Greek word, muthos, which simply means “story”.

*7 functions of myths

*1. To explain the creation of the world and universe.

*2. To explain the human condition: the big questions. Why were we created? Why are they flawed? Why is there suffering? Death? Etc.

*3. To explain natural phenomena(sun, moon, etc.)

*4. To explain the nature of gods and goddesses

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

*6. To explain historical events.

*7. To teach moral lessons.

*Folktales

*Folktales are entertaining stories about ordinary people who survive by luck, by using their wits, and by relying on their own natural goodness.

*Differences from myths:

* 1. Folktales are secular, or nonreligious

* 2. Folktales were created to entertain rather than teach.

* 3. Like myths, folktales have supernatural elements such as, magic, transformations and enchantments. They include gods and goddesses as characters, but not as central actors in the story.

* 4. Folktale heroes tend to be common, everyday folk who don’t have special powers.

*5. Folktales are not associated with religious rituals.

*Important terms to know

*Origin Myth: a story that explains how something began.

*Pantheons: family groups of gods and goddesses

*Achetype: themes, characters, and images that recur in different cultures

*Motif: recurring story features; e.g. Earth diver