World Myths - Unit Review



CHARACTERISTICS OF MYTHS & FOLKTALES

| |Myth |Folktale |

|Common Characteristics |Teaches a moral lesson |

| |Handed down orally |

| |Answers big questions: | |

| |1. To explain the creation of the world and the |A story that is created by the “folk”—the common |

| |universe |people of a society |

| |2. To explain the human condition: |Secular/non-religious |

| |How and why people were created, why they are |Created as much for entertainment value as for |

|Distinctive |flawed, why there is suffering in the world, why |teaching of social/moral values |

|Characteristics |people must eventually die, what happens after death|Feature magic, transformations & enchantments; |

| |3. To explain natural phenomena |may include gods/goddesses as characters but they|

| |4. To explain the nature of gods and goddesses |were not central actors in story |

| |5. To explain the meanings behind religious rituals,| |

| |customs and beliefs | |

| |EXPLAINS | |

| | |ENTERTAINS |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Male or female |Very ordinary person |

| |Remarkable birth or childhood |Usually a stepchild or a neglected youngest child|

|Characteristics of the Hero |Often offspring of a god/goddess & human being so |who is rejected by parents or siblings |

| |possesses qualities of immortals & mortals |Exceptionally kind, clever, resourceful |

| |Sometimes unaware of origins and may be raised by |Aided on quest by ordinary people, animals, |

| |foster parents |magical beings |

| |Early signs of being special, possessing superhuman | |

| |strength or supernatural powers | |

| |Aided on quest by loyal friends, gods, goddesses | |

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