Chapter 1

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Mythology and Folklore

CHAPTER 1
Objectives:
a. Define mythology in own words.
b. Identify the differences between mythology and folklore.
c. Summarizes the meaning of related word in mythology.
d. Justify the form of a literary piece given as examples.

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Terms and definition
Myth
A myth is a traditional story that may answer life's overarching questions,

such as the origins of the world (the creation myth) or of a people. A myth
can also be an attempt to explain mysteries, supernatural events, and cultural
traditions. Sometimes sacred in nature, a myth can involve gods or other
creatures. It presents reality in dramatic ways.
Many cultures have their own versions of common myths that contain
archetypal images and themes. One common myth that spans multiple
cultures is that of a great flood. Myth criticism is used to analyze these threads
in literature. A prominent name in myth criticism is that of the literary critic,
professor, and Editor Northrop Frye.
The word myth derives from the Greek mythos, which has a range of meanings
from “word,” through “saying” and “story,” to “fiction”; the unquestioned
validity of mythos can be contrasted with logos, the word whose validity or
truth can be argued and demonstrated. Because myths narrate fantastic
events with no attempt at proof, it is sometimes assumed that they are simply
stories with no factual basis, and the word has become a synonym for
falsehood or, at best, misconception. In the study of religion, however, it is
important to distinguish between myths and stories that are merely untrue.
Folklore and Folktale
Whereas myth has at its core the origins of a people and is often sacred,
folklore is a collection of fictional tales about people or animals. Superstitions
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and unfounded beliefs are important elements in the folklore tradition. Both
myths and folklore were originally circulated orally.
Folktales describe how the main character copes with the events of everyday
life, and the tale may involve crisis or conflict. These stories may teach people
how to cope with life (or dying) and also have themes common among cultures
worldwide. The study of folklore is called folkloristic.
Legend
A legend is a story that's purported to be historical in nature but that is without

substantiation. Prominent examples include King Arthur, Blackbeard, and
Robin Hood. Where evidence of historical figures, such as King Richard,
actually exists, figures such as King Arthur are legends due in large part to
the many stories that have been created about them.
Legend also refers to anything that inspires a body of stories or anything of

lasting importance or fame. The story is handed down orally but continues to
evolve with time. Much of early literature began as legend told and retold in
epic poems that were passed down orally originally, then at some point written
down. These include masterpieces such as the Greek Homeric Poems ("The
Iliad" and "The Odyssey"), circa 800 BCE, to the French "Chanson de Roland,"
circa 1100 CE.
Fairy Tale
A fairy tale may involve fairies, giants, dragons, elves, goblins, dwarves, and
other fanciful and fantastic forces. Although originally not written for children,
in the most recent century, many old fairy tales have been "Disneyfied" to be
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less sinister and to appeal to kids. These stories have taken on lives of their
own. In fact, many classic and contemporary books, such as "Cinderella,"
"Beauty and the Beast," and "Snow White," are based on fairy tales. But read
the original Grimm brothers' fairy tales, for example, and you'll be surprised
at the endings and how they differ from the versions that you may have grown
up with.
Fable
Fable is a short tale passed down through the generations that is intended to
teach a moral. Fables generally feature talking animals, or other creatures,
plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are given human qualities.
The ancient Greek storyteller Aesop is famous for his collection of fables.
Sagas and Epics
The word saga is often used in a generalized and loose way to refer to any
extended narrative re-creation of historical events. A distinction is thus
sometimes drawn between myths (set in a semi divine world) and sagas (more
realistic and more firmly grounded in a specific historical setting). This rather
vague use of saga is best avoided, however, since the word can more usefully
retain the precise connotation of its original context. The word saga is Old
Norse and means “what is said.” The sagas are a group of medieval Icelandic
prose narratives; the principal sagas date from the 13th century and relate
the deeds of Icelandic heroes who lived during the 10th and 11th centuries. If
the word saga is restricted to this Icelandic context, at least one of the possible
terminological confusions over words for traditional tales is avoided.
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While saga in its original sense is a narrative type confined to a particular time
and place, epics are found worldwide. Examples can be found in the ancient
world (the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer), in medieval Europe (the
Nibelungenlied), and in modern times (the Serbo-Croatian epic poetry
recorded in the 1930s). Among the many non-European examples are the
Indian Mahabharata and the Tibetan Gesar epic. Epic is similar to saga in that
both narrative forms look back to an age of heroic endeavor, but it differs from
saga in that epics are almost always composed in poetry (with a few
exceptions such as Kazak epic and the Turkish Book of Dede Korkut). The
relation between epic and myth is not easy to pin down, but it is in general
true that epics characteristically incorporate mythical events and persons. An
example is the ancient Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh, which includes,
among many mythical episodes, an account of the meeting between the hero
Gilgamesh and Utnapishtim, the only human being to have attained
immortality and sole survivor (with his wife) of the flood sent by the gods.
Myth is thus a prime source of the material on which epic draws.
Parables
The term myth is not normally applied to narratives that have as their explicit
purpose the illustration of a doctrine or standard of conduct. Instead, the term
parable, or illustrative tale, is used. Familiar examples of such narratives are
the parables of the New Testament. Parables have a considerable role also in
Sufism (Islamic mysticism), rabbinic (Jewish biblical interpretive) literature,
Hasidism (Jewish pietism), and Zen Buddhism. That parables are essentially
non-mythological is clear because the point made by the parable is known or
supposed to be known from another source. Parables have a more subservient
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function than myths. They may clarify something to an individual or a group
but do not take on the revelatory character of myth
Etiologic tales
Etiologic tales are very close to myth, and some scholars regard them as a
particular type of myth rather than as a separate category. In modern usage
the term etiology is used to refer to the description or assignment of causes
(Greek aitia). Accordingly, an etiologic tale explains the origin of a custom,
state of affairs, or natural feature in the human or divine world. Many tales
explain the origin of a particular rock or mountain. Others explain iconographic
features, such as the Hindu narrative ascribing the blue neck of the god Shiva
to a poison he drank in primordial times. The etiologic theme often seems to
be added to a mythical narrative as an afterthought. In other words, the
etiology is not the distinctive characteristic of myth.
 https://www.britannica.com/topic/myth
 https://www.bcls.lib.nj.us/folklore-and-folktales
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilIhWatZpAo
Video links:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hps4nnNbLFc
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgz_WCa-0s4

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MODULE IN

Mythology and Folklore

Mythology and Folklore

A myth is a traditional story that may answer life's overarching questions,

Folklore and Folktale

Mythology and Folklore

A legend is a story that's purported to be historical in nature but that is without

Legend also refers to anything that inspires a body of stories or anything of

Mythology and Folklore

Sagas and Epics

Mythology and Folklore

Mythology and Folklore

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