FOLKTALES, MYTHS, AND LEGENDS

Folklore and Traditional Literature

Folklore consists of a people group (or “folk”) and all of its accumulated facts (“lore”) including: traditional customs, beliefs, knowledge, values, and attitudes of the ordinary people.

Folk + Lore = Folklore

A folk's lore is communicated by word of mouth until it is transcribed (written down); this is called “oral tradition.” Before people groups had written languages, oral tradition was the only means of preserving the history of a people and its culture.

TRADITIONAL LITERATURE

Folktales, myths, and legends are only one part (the literary part) of a folk's lore. Folktales are a society's narratives, stories, and literature. They are the stories that have been handed down from generation to generation.

Beliefs

Facts

values

myths

legends

The science of folklore was born when collectors ("folklorists") began collect-ing items to preserve the lore and his-tory of various people groups. The birth of this science began in the early 19th century and is most often attributed to the Brothers Grimm, known best for their collection of what are now well-known fairy tales: Red Riding Hood, Snow-White, Hansel & Gretel, Rapunzel, etc.

EXAMPLES OF FOLKLORE

How do you cure the hiccups?

What do you do at a birthday party?

What is done with the bride’s bouquet at a

wedding?

How can you “magically” predict the

gender of an unborn baby?

EXAMPLES OF FOLKLORE

H

ow do you make s’mores (“somemores”)?

H

ow do you build a snowman?

W

hat do you say when you smile for a picture?

WHAT IS A FOLK TALE?

A folk tale is a story

with no known author

that usually teaches a

lesson. Examples of

American folktales

include: Brer Rabbit,

Paul Bunyan, Three

Billy Goats Gruff, etc.

A myth is a story that

usually explains something

about the world and involves

gods and other superhuman

beings. Examples include:

Medusa’s Head, Prometheus

Bringer of Fire, Iliad &

Odyssey

WHAT IS A MYTH?

WHAT IS A LEGEND?

A legend is a story

often believed to be

true and in which the

characters are usually

considered historical by

some. Examples include

Robin Hood, King

Arthur, and Pecos Bill.

MOTIFS IN TRADITIONAL LITERATURE

A motif is a recurring thematic element. lt is the smallest element in a tale having the power to persist in tradition. ln order to have this power, it must have something unusual or striking or universal about it.

SOME COMMON MOTIFS:

M

agical powers

T

ransformation

Making a deal with the devil

Wishes

Trickery

THREE WAYS MOTIFS APPEAR IN LITERATURE:

Characters

Example: The "underdog" brother (or

sister), Prince Charming, the damsel in

distress, etc.

THREE WAYS MOTIFS APPEAR IN LITERATURE:

Plot lncident

Examples: The magic kiss, the long sleep,

the journey, the difficult task, etc.

THREE WAYS MOTIFS APPEAR IN LITERATURE:

Objects

Examples: Hair, ring, water, magic cooking

pot, flying carpets, etc.

VoiceThread Questions

Do to-day’s youngpeopletellstories?

Dochildrenstillenjoyhearingstories?

Do youthinkthese people are telling stories orjust goofing around & partying?

Is this story tell-ing? Why or why not? How doesit differfrom faceto facestory tell-ing?

What about myths…folktales…

legends…

As a culture, do we still believe them?

Tell them? Pass them on to other

generations? Should we? Why do we

or don’t we?

What about…?

“Myths are stories, and we find meaning

in our lives through the stories we tell.

Myths are not true or untrue—they're

living or dead.”--Phil Cousineau

Once & Future Myths

DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE? WHY?...

WE FIND MEANING…WE TELL STORIES…

“Myths are stories and

we find meaning in our

lives through the stories

we tell.”