Myths, Legends, and Myths, Legends, and FablesFables

What are they?What are they?

Why are they important to Why are they important to literature?literature?

What is a myth?What is a myth?

A traditional story passed down through generations.Attempts to explain some aspect of the natural world.Often involves supernatural events and beings.Shows the values and beliefs of a cultural group.May have many versions; Myths are shared orally over a span of time by many different tellers.

Note: The “truth” of a myth is irrelevant. Myths arise from the human desire to understand the world.

Archetypes and MythArchetypes and Myth

• Myths, both ancient and modern, are one of the places Myths, both ancient and modern, are one of the places where archetypal patterns frequently appear.where archetypal patterns frequently appear.

• The stories told in myths are born of the innate human The stories told in myths are born of the innate human desire to explain the world and know the unknowable.desire to explain the world and know the unknowable.

• Images and plots in myths are often similar to stories Images and plots in myths are often similar to stories in other cultures and frequently have symbolic in other cultures and frequently have symbolic significance.significance.

Archetypes and Myth continued . . .Archetypes and Myth continued . . .• Some common universal themes in myths across Some common universal themes in myths across

cultures and time periods are cultures and time periods are • CREATION MYTHS - How was this world created? CREATION MYTHS - How was this world created?

Where did God (or the gods) come from? How were Where did God (or the gods) come from? How were humans created?humans created?

• FLOOD MYTHS - Man displeases the gods and must FLOOD MYTHS - Man displeases the gods and must be punished; the world is cleansed by water (an be punished; the world is cleansed by water (an archetypal rebirth symbol).archetypal rebirth symbol).

• HERO MYTHS - The hero overcomes tremendous HERO MYTHS - The hero overcomes tremendous obstacles, saves the day, and becomes a stronger, obstacles, saves the day, and becomes a stronger, better person.better person.

What is a Legend?What is a Legend?

A legend is a story A legend is a story about a REAL person about a REAL person who performed great who performed great deeds. deeds.

As the story is retold over As the story is retold over the years it becomes the years it becomes more exaggerated, thus more exaggerated, thus leading to a legend.leading to a legend.

Example – Paul BunyanExample – Paul Bunyan

What does this have to do What does this have to do with me?with me?

Every culture has their own group of myths Every culture has their own group of myths and legends.and legends.

Many stories concerning our founding Many stories concerning our founding fathers, such as George Washington, have fathers, such as George Washington, have become legend. Only a small part of become legend. Only a small part of these stories is based on truth.these stories is based on truth.

ContinuedContinued

George Washington George Washington likely did not “chop likely did not “chop down the Cherry Tree down the Cherry Tree and tell the truth” for and tell the truth” for example.example.

What is a Fable?What is a Fable?

Fables usually have a Fables usually have a moral, a statement or moral, a statement or idea on how humans idea on how humans should live their lives.should live their lives.

One or more One or more characters are characters are animals.animals.

Test yourselfTest yourself

Which of the following are Myths, which Which of the following are Myths, which are legends, and which are Fables?are legends, and which are Fables? King ArthurKing Arthur The Great FloodThe Great Flood Stewart LittleStewart Little SupermanSuperman BeowulfBeowulf The Three Little PigsThe Three Little Pigs

King ArthurKing Arthur

The Great FloodThe Great Flood

Stewart LittleStewart Little

SupermanSuperman

BeowulfBeowulf

The Three Little PigsThe Three Little Pigs

AnswersAnswers

King Arthur is a Legend, King Arthur is a Legend, although as early as the although as early as the 1980s he was considered 1980s he was considered a myth.a myth.

The Great Flood is an The Great Flood is an archetypal flood myth. archetypal flood myth. Stories of a great flood Stories of a great flood appear in nearly every appear in nearly every culture. The flood first culture. The flood first appeared in print within appeared in print within The Epic of Gilgamesh.The Epic of Gilgamesh.

Stewart Little is a Stewart Little is a Fable, since it Fable, since it involves an animal involves an animal character and it character and it teaches a lesson.teaches a lesson.

Superman is a myth. Superman is a myth. All of the DC All of the DC superheroes are superheroes are patterned off of Greek patterned off of Greek MythologyMythology

Answers ConcludedAnswers Concluded

Beowulf is a legend. Beowulf is a legend. Although we are not Although we are not certain of a man named certain of a man named “Beowulf,” the “Beowulf,” the exaggeration and exaggeration and bragging depicted were bragging depicted were typical for Anglo-Saxon typical for Anglo-Saxon times, and likely Beowulf times, and likely Beowulf represented someone represented someone who was real.who was real.

The Three Little Pigs The Three Little Pigs is a Fable, but I think is a Fable, but I think that was an easy one.that was an easy one.