Myths: Creation, Function, and Difference

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T
HE
 M
YTH
 
AND
I
TS
 F
UNCTION
W
HAT
 
IS
 I
NCLUDED
What is a Myth?
The Sacred Myth
Establishing Order
The Ideal
Entertaining the Masses
H
OW
 
WERE
 
THESE
 
STORIES
CREATED
?
W
HAT
 
IS
 
A
 M
YTH
?
 
M
YTH
Def. – a fictitious story or half-truth
Many culture have their own myths.
These stories may be widely different,
but the characteristics are similar
W
HAT
 M
AKES
 
A
 M
YTH
?
No single author
Story evolves through the telling and
retelling of it by many people
A M
YTH
 
IS
Essential Elements of a Myth
A religious story;
Offers explanation for the unknown;
Attempts to answer broad and
fundamental questions; and
Part of a larger mythology
L
EGENDS
 & F
OLKTALES
“Myth,” “legend” & “folktale” used
interchangeably because they share
similar similarities
BUT
Myths must have 
ALL
 of the Essential
Elements.  If not, then it is a “legend” or a
“folktale.”
L
EGENDS
DEF.  a story handed down through
generations with no hard evidence
backing it up
All myths are legends, but not
all legends are myths.
F
OLKTALES
DEF. – a story that is pure fiction and
are not founded on a particular
person, place or event.
All myths are folktales, but not all
folktales are myths.
T
HE
 S
ACRED
 M
YTH
P
ROTECT
 Y
OURSELF
PRAY!
Greeks and Romans were very
religious people.
Myths defined who people should
turn to in times of need.
R
EAD
 Y
OUR
 R
ITES
Myths give religious rights meaning or
sometimes even spawned new rites.
Most common rite explored = ritual of
sacrifice (Prometheus)
E
STABLISHING
 O
RDER
N
ATURAL
 & S
OCIAL
ORDER
Another important role of the myth is
that of creating both natural and social
order.
N
ATURAL
 O
RDER
Most myths confirm that Zeus, ruler of
gods, was responsible for creating
order in the natural world.
Zeus presided over the affairs of the
natural world
Placed the starts & planets in their places
Gave rain, snow, thunder & lightening
S
OCIAL
 O
RDER
Now that they universe has been
created and under control, the lesser
beings needed to understand their
roles and rules (so they didn’t upset
the natural order)
Ancients had their own set of rules
Established through myths
Zeus established these, too
T
HE
 I
DEAL
 
Myths served to paint the portrait of the
ideal human behavior and human being
E
NTERTAINING
 
THE
 M
ASSES
 
Ancients enjoyed entertainment just like
we do today only they used the oral
tradition
O
RAL
 T
RADITION
Told to people by bards (storytellers
well-versed in heroic tales)
Because they were under pressure to
please audience’s wishes, the same
story would vary a bit from myth to
myth or each time it was told
A
ND
 F
INALLY
Mythology is a source of great
entertainment and academic study
Don’t accept myths as literal truths
(we don’t study them to gather
answers)
Even so, that doesn’t mean we can’t
find our own truths within the
mythological tales.
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Explore the intriguing world of myths and legends, uncovering the origins of these ancient stories, their purpose in society, and the distinctions between myths, legends, and folktales. Discover the essence of myths as they offer explanations for the unknown, answer fundamental questions, and form part of diverse mythologies across cultures.

  • Myths
  • Legends
  • Folktales
  • Creation
  • Function

Uploaded on Nov 17, 2024 | 0 Views


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  1. THE MYTH AND ITS FUNCTION

  2. WHAT IS INCLUDED What is a Myth? The Sacred Myth Establishing Order The Ideal Entertaining the Masses

  3. HOW WERE THESE STORIES CREATED?

  4. WHAT IS A MYTH?

  5. MYTH Def. a fictitious story or half-truth Many culture have their own myths. These stories may be widely different, but the characteristics are similar

  6. WHAT MAKES A MYTH? No single author Story evolves through the telling and retelling of it by many people

  7. A MYTH IS Essential Elements of a Myth A religious story; Offers explanation for the unknown; Attempts to answer broad and fundamental questions; and Part of a larger mythology

  8. LEGENDS & FOLKTALES Myth, legend & folktale used interchangeably because they share similar similarities BUT Myths must have ALL of the Essential Elements. If not, then it is a legend or a folktale.

  9. LEGENDS DEF. a story handed down through generations with no hard evidence backing it up All myths are legends, but not all legends are myths.

  10. FOLKTALES DEF. a story that is pure fiction and are not founded on a particular person, place or event. All myths are folktales, but not all folktales are myths.

  11. THE SACRED MYTH

  12. PROTECT YOURSELF PRAY! Greeks and Romans were very religious people. Myths defined who people should turn to in times of need.

  13. READ YOUR RITES Myths give religious rights meaning or sometimes even spawned new rites. Most common rite explored = ritual of sacrifice (Prometheus)

  14. ESTABLISHING ORDER

  15. NATURAL & SOCIAL ORDER Another important role of the myth is that of creating both natural and social order. Creation begins with Chaos Myth works to give specific order to the universe Order created in cosmos Myth brings order to lesser beings (humankind & society)

  16. NATURAL ORDER Most myths confirm that Zeus, ruler of gods, was responsible for creating order in the natural world. Zeus presided over the affairs of the natural world Placed the starts & planets in their places Gave rain, snow, thunder & lightening

  17. SOCIAL ORDER Now that they universe has been created and under control, the lesser beings needed to understand their roles and rules (so they didn t upset the natural order) Ancients had their own set of rules Established through myths Zeus established these, too

  18. THE IDEAL

  19. Myths served to paint the portrait of the ideal human behavior and human being

  20. ENTERTAINING THE MASSES

  21. Ancients enjoyed entertainment just like we do today only they used the oral tradition

  22. ORAL TRADITION Told to people by bards (storytellers well-versed in heroic tales) Because they were under pressure to please audience s wishes, the same story would vary a bit from myth to myth or each time it was told

  23. AND FINALLY Mythology is a source of great entertainment and academic study Don t accept myths as literal truths (we don t study them to gather answers) Even so, that doesn t mean we can t find our own truths within the mythological tales.

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