Download The mystical function

Myths and Folktales

What is a Folktale? 

A story of unknown authorship passed down orally.  Tell tales of ordinary people (or animals) and everyday life.  Includes fairy tales and folklore.  May include supernatural elements, but doesn’t have to.

Characteristics of Folktales 

Animals can talk  Begins with a phrase such as, “Once upon a time . . .”, or “There once was . . .”  Tales of good and evil  Has a happy ending (usually)  No known author

What is a Myth?  

An ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, and heroes. It explains the view of a group of people

Which cultures have myths? 

Every culture has its own mythology  Universal symbols and themes appear in different cultures’ myths  Greek, Roman, Native American, Celtic, South American, African, and Norse mythology are examples of myths from different cultures

What are some characteristics of myths? 

Contain heroes and heroines  Supernatural elements  Gods and goddesses  Explains a natural phenomenon  Told orally (spoken)

Why did ancient people tell myths? 

To help explain the unexplainable  To explain natural phenomenon  To tell about their heroes  To explain human nature  To teach morals and values

Why do we still study mythology? 

To learn about ancient cultures  As inspiration for the arts  As the foundation of literature  To teach values and morals  For entertainment

Four Functions of Mythology There are four basic functions of mythology, according to Joseph Campbell. 

1) The mystical function – stories that express the awe and wonder of the universe



2) The cosmological function – stories that attempt to explain the processes of nature



3) The sociological function – stories that support and validate a certain social order



4) The pedagogical function – stories that explain how to live a full, happy life

The Stone and the Banana: An Indonesian Myth Thus, the natives of Poso, a district of Central Celebes, say that the Creator, who lived in it, used to let down his gifts to men at the end of a rope.

One day he thus lowered a stone; but our first father and mother would have none of it and they called out to their Maker, “What have we to do with this stone? Give us something else.”

The Creator complied and hauled away at the rope; the stone mounted up and up until it vanished from sight. Presently the rope was seen coming down from heaven again, and this time there was a banana at the end of it instead of a stone.

Our first parents ran at the banana and took it. Then there came a voice from heaven saying: “Because ye have chosen the banana, your life shall be like its life. When the banana-tree has offspring, the parent stem dies; so shall ye die and your children shall step into your place.”

“Had ye chosen the stone, your life would have been like the life of the stone, changeless and immortal.”

The man and his wife mourned over their fatal choice, but it was too late; that is how through the eating of a banana, death came into the world.

“Death Agony” Edvard Munch

What characteristics of myth did you notice from this story? 

What phenomenon was the story explaining?  What supernatural elements were present? 

What can you tell about the Indonesian culture based on this myth?

The word mythology is Greek in origin (etymology)  Muthos=

story  Logo= speech or argument

Greek and Roman Mythology is often called “Classical Mythology”

Gods and Goddesses in Classical Mythology Greek

Roman

  

  

Zeus Apollo Hades  Poseidon  Hera  Athena  Demeter  Persephone

Jupiter Apollo Pluto  Neptune  Juno  Minerva  Ceres  Proserpine

Area of Power King of the gods; the sky The sun; music King of the underworld Ruler of the seas Wife of Zeus; marriage Wisdom Agriculture; earth Goddess of the underworld; Demeter’s daughter

Creatures in Classical Mythology      

Centaur Medusa Pegasus Nymph Sphinx Titans

PROMETHEUS

Native American Lit. (“The Earth on Turtle’s Back”, “When Grizzlies Walked Upright”, “The Navajo Origin Legend”, “Museum Indians”) 1.

Origin Myth: Story that explains how life began

2.

Oral Tradition: Stories, poems, and songs that convey a people’s values, concerns, and history by word of mouth. (no written language)

Archetype •

basic building blocks of stories that all writers use to create a world to which readers can escape.

•

all cultures around the world use them to build their stories.

•

Examples of archetypes are: the hero, the damsel in distress, the battle between good and evil, bargaining with the devil,etc.

Situational Archetypes •

THE JOURNEY—the hero goes in search of some truth or information to restore life to the kingdom;

•

THE QUEST—search for someone or some object, which when it is found and brought back will restore life to a wasted land, the desolation of which is shown by a leader’s illness and disability.

Situational Archetypes •DEATH AND REBIRTH—grows out of a parallel between the cycle of nature and the cycle of life. Thus, morning and springtime represent birth, youth, or rebirth; evening and winter suggest old age or death. •BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL— Obviously the battle between two primal forces. Mankind shows eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds.

•THE RITUAL—The actual ceremonies the initiate experiences that will mark his rite of passage into another state (weddings, funerals)

Symbolic Archetypes •LIGHT VS. DARKNESS—light suggests hope, renewal, or intellectual illumination; darkness suggests the unknown, ignorance, or despair.

•HEAVEN VS. HELL—gods live in the skies or mountaintops; evil forces live in the bowels of the earth

Symbolic Archetypes •SUPERNATURAL INTERVENTION—the gods most often intervene on the side of the hero to assist him in his quest

•MAGIC WEAPON—some object used to fight the forces of evil that has magical properties

Character Archetypes •THE HERO—circumstances of birth are unusual, some attempt is made at birth to kill him; raised by foster parents, returns to his kingdom to right wrongs, marries a princess, becomes king •MENTOR—teacher or counselor to the hero; often are father or mother figures to the hero or heroine

Character Archetypes •STAR-CROSSED LOVERS—two lovers forbidden to be together because of the rules of society or family; often ends tragically •CREATURE OF NIGHTMARE—animal or creature disfigured or mutated; monsters who are the antagonists in the story •TEMPTRESS—sensuous beauty; brings about the hero’s downfall because he is physically attracted to her

SHREK Archetypes •DEATH AND REBIRTH—when they escape the dragon, morning is dawning suggesting hope and rebirth

•BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL—Shrek and Donkey vs the Dragon and then later Farquaad •STAR-CROSSED LOVERS—Dragons and Donkeys aren’t supposed to be together. . .eew •EVIL FIGURE WITH A GOOD HEART—Dragon appears at first as an Evil Figure, especially with the remains of the knights, but Donkey saves her and converts her to good •CREATURE OF NIGHTMARE—Dragon before she falls in love with Donkey •THE JOURNEY—Shrek and Donkey face their fears and conquer the dragon, finding Fiona to accomplish their task

SHREK Archetypes •HERO—Shrek…literally doing superhuman deeds ( fighting fire breathing dragon)

•QUEST—to find and rescue Princess Fiona •TASK—to get his swamp back from the fairy creatures •HUNTING GROUP OF COMPANIONS—Donkey is there to make Shrek’s humanity come out and show that he is not just an ogre at heart •FRIENDLY BEAST—Donkey •DAMSEL IN DISTRESS—Princess Fiona in the highest tower •HEAVEN VS. HELL—glowing embers and fire are shown to be the habitat of the dragon. •LIGHT VS. DARKNESS—the castle is dark to represent evil; Fiona is first seen in a ray of light; as soon as they escape, they emerge into daytime since they have escaped evil