Folk Literature, Mythology and Myths

Folk Literature

• Folk literature includes stories, legends, myths, ballads, songs, riddles, sayings, and other works
• These originate from oral traditions around the world

Mythology

• Mythology refers to a collection of myths
• It is related to a specific religious or cultural tradition

Myth

• Myths are traditional or legendary tales about beings, heroes, or events
• They may or may not have a basis in fact or national explanation
• Myths often involve deities or demigods, and are used to explain practices, rites, or natural phenomena

Anthropomorphism

• Anthropomorphism is derived from Greek words meaning human, giving a definite shape with human attributes
• This includes human form, characteristics, or behavior to nonhuman things

Pattern of Flood Myths

• Flood myths often follow a pattern
• Cause: The flood is sent as punishment for human actions
• Size: The flood covers the entire land
• Survivors: Only a few good people survive
• Signs: A rainbow signifies hope

Gilgamesh

• Gilgamesh is a Mesopotamian hero and son of the goddess Ninsun
• His stories are found in Sumerian and Babylonian poems

Epic of Gilgamesh

• The epic explores themes of meaning of life, identity, relationships, mortality, and immortality
• Enkidu is Gilgamesh's best friend
• Humbaba serves as the epic’s villain
• Ishtar is a goddess who was fond of Gilgamesh, and she unleashed a bull due to his rejection
• Gilgamesh expresses fear of death, similar to Enkidu
• Utnapishtim is the individual Gilgamesh sought for insights on immortality

The Children of Lir

• This is an Irish Celtic tale
• Tuatha De Danann is the name of the tribe involved
• Bodb Dearg won a conflict against Lir
• Aebh, Bodb's daughter, was given to Lir in marriage
• Their children, Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiachra, and Conn, were transformed into swans
• Aoife turned them into swans, replacing Aebh
• The curse entailed 300 years on Lake Derravaragh, 300 years on the Icy Sea of Moyle, and 300 years in the Bay of Erris
• Mochua baptized the swans, reverting them to human form

Mythological Creatures

• Unicorn: Celtic symbol of purity and grace; captured only by a virgin
• Phoenix: Egyptian mythical bird that dies in fire and is reborn
• Kitsune: Japanese shapeshifting creature, often appearing as a beautiful woman
• Tengu: Mischievous supernatural being, possibly a reincarnated arrogant spirit
• Tikbalang: A tall, bony creature resembling a humanoid horse
• Kapre: Philippine mythical tall, dark, hairy, muscular tree giant
• Aswang: Shape-shifter who turns into animals and eats people
• Troll: Lives in caves, turns to stone in sunlight
• Chimera: Lion, goat, serpent hybrid that breathes fire
• Fenrir: Monstrous wolf from Norse mythology
• Hydra: 9-headed serpent
• Centaur: Half human, half horse
• Gorgons: Snakes for hair, turns people to stone with their gaze
• Oni: Japanese demon
• Cerberus: 3-headed dog, guardian of the underworld
• Minotaur: Half human, half bull
• Jin: Arabian character that can grant wishes
• Harpy: Half human, half bird
• Griffin: Eagle, lion hybrid
• Pegasus: Winged horse
• Banshee: Emits a loud scream and appears when a loved one is dying
• Ghoul: Dark scavenger
• Chupacabra: Sucks animal blood
• Kappa: Drags creatures into swamps

Tell Tales

• Tell tales involve the extraordinary compared to real life
• They're funny and entertaining
• Examples include: Paul Bunyan, and Bernardo Carpio

Paul Bunyan

• Paul Bunyan is an American folklore character who dug out the Grand Canyon

The Carabao and the Shell

• This is a Philippine folktale
• A carabao and shell try to outwit each other

Marduk

• Marduk is the Mesopotamian god from Enuma Elish
• He leads new gods against old gods and creates the sky, earth, and humans

The Monkey King

• 'Journey to the West' features Sun Wukong, the monkey king
• Xuanzang is a Buddhist monk
• The monkey retrieves Buddhist scriptures, which represent a search for enlightenment

Egyptian Mythology

• Amun: Wind god
• Anubis: Jackal-headed god
• Osiris: Husband of Isis
• Set: Killed Osiris, husband of Nephthys

Greek Mythology

• Demeter and Persephone's story explains the seasons, with winter representing Demeter's grief when Hades kidnaps Persephone

Greek Myths

• Greek myths reflect on humanity's perspective on the mysteries of the universe
• Titans: Twelve elder gods before the Roman gods
• Titanomachy: 10-year battle where Olympian gods beat the Titans in Thessaly

Regions of the Underworld

• Tartarus: Black pit for the bad
• Erebus: Dark region for passage of the dead
• Asphodel: Place that numbs the minds of the dead
• Elysium: Paradise for the good

The Olympians

• Zeus is the chief god

  • He is the Lord of the Sky, the rain-god, and the cloud-gatherer, who wields the thunderbolt

• Poseidon is Lord/ruler of the sea, also known as the Earth-shaker

  • He is always seen carrying his trident

• Hades is ruler of the underworld

  • He rules over the dead, is the God of Wealth, and owns a cap/helmet of invisibility

• Demeter is the Greek goddess of harvest, grains, and agriculture, and also the mother of Persephone

• Hera is the protector of marriage She's a jealous goddess symbolized by a peacock

• Ares is the God of War, known as a ruthless murderer and coward who delights in battles

• Hermes is graceful and swift

  • He wears winged sandals and wings on his crowned hat, carries a magic wand called Caduceus, and is Zeus’ messenger and Master Thief

• Pallas Athena is the daughter of Zeus alone

  • She's the battle goddess; the Goddess of the City, and Zeus' favorite child

• Aphrodite is the goddess of Love and Beauty

  • She’s an irresistible goddess

• Phoebus Apollo is "most Greek of all the gods"

  • He’s a master musician who delights Olympus while playing his golden lyre

• Artemis is Apollo’s twin sister

  • She is the Lady of Wild Things and the Hunt-man-in-chief to the gods
  • Artemis is also known as Phoebe (moon) and Selene (Luna in Latin)

• Hestia is a virgin goddess

  • She’s the goddess of the Hearth and is a symbol of the home
  • Every meal began and ended with an offering to her

• Dionysius is the youngest Olympian

  • He is the god of wine and treasure and the only Olympian god with a mortal mother

• Hephaestus is the God of Fire

  • He’s ugly and lame, the workman of the immortals, an armorer and smith, and lameness is a characteristic of humans

• Prometheus was punished for stealing fire and forethought

• Epimetheus is the afterthought and husband of Pandora

• Io was turned into a Heifer

• Argus is the god with many eyes

The Iliad

• Common themes include: love, honor, friendship, rivalry, free will, and fate
• The Iliad and Odyssey are ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer
• The Trojan War was against the city of Troy by armies of the Acheans
• The wedding of King Peleus (of Aiakos) and Thetis (a sea nymph) was where the Apple of Discord was given
• Eris ("Discord") was not invited
• "Te Kallisti" (to the fairest) represents the contest between Hera (political power, control over Asia), Athena (skills in battle), and Aphrodite (most beautiful woman)
• Paris was prophesied to be the downfall of Troy
• Helen was known as the "most beautiful woman on earth,” wife of Menelaus, and daughter of Leda and Zeus

Gods

• Gods who supported the Trojans include: Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, and Artemis
• Gods who sided with the Greeks include: Hera, Poseidon, Hermes, Hephaestus, and Athena
• Achilles was the son of Peleus and Thetis
  • It was foretold that he "die of old age after an uneventful life or die young on the battlefield"
  • The River Styx was part of the prophecy
  • Achilles describes himself as the son of a great father and mother "who bore me immortal"
• Patroclus was the best friend of Achilles and murdered by Hector, who died in the end of the Iliad

The Odyssey

• Odysseus was a hero in the Trojan War who came up with the idea for the Trojan horse
• Penelope, Odysseus' wife, waited patiently for him for 20 years
• Telemachus is Odysseus' son
  • Odysseus mentioned that as soon as Telemachus grows his beard, Penelope would be free to marry whoever she chooses
• Athena is Odysseus' protector
• Poseidon held grudges against Odysseus and caused mishaps for him
• Circe turned Odysseus' crew members into animals
• Calypso trapped Odysseus on her island and fell in love with him
• Ithaca is Odysseus' homeland
• The Trojan Horse symbolizes deceit and betrayal
• Thanatos is the ancient god of death

Jason and the Golden Fleece

• King Pelias (Iolcos, Thessaly)- Jason's uncle stole the throne and required Jason to retrieve the Golden Fleece
• Colchis is the place where Jason needs to find the golden fleece reigned by King Acetes
• Phineas gave Jason and his crew a dove after they helped him deal with harpies
• Medea helped Jason on his father's task
• Euripedes wrote Medea to criticize Greek behavior

Oedipus (Sophocles): "the one with swollen feet"

• King Laius & Queen Jacosta- Oedipus' parents
• Polybus and Merope- Royal couple from Corinth who became Oedipus' adoptive parents
• A crossroad symbolizes the important decision he made
• The Oracle of Delphi prophesied that Oedipus would marry his mother and kill his father

Antigone (Sophocles)

• Eteocles & Polyneices- Oedipus' sons who killed each other for the throne
• Creon, Jocasta's brother who replaced Oedipus
• Antigone attempted to bury her brother Polyneices over Creon's objections
• Ismene disagreed with Antigone's plan

Sisyphus

• Sisyphus is the King of Corinth in Hades for eternity, rolling a big stone uphill
• Daedalus and Icarus are the subjects in "Musee de Beaux Arts"

8 Brief Tales

• Pyramus and Thisbe
• Orpheus and Eurydice
• Ceyx and Alcone
• Pygmalion and Galatea
• Baucis and Philemon
• Endymion (and Selene)
• Daphne and Apollo
• Alpheus and Arethusa

Arcadia

• Arcadia is a region that worships Pan

Psyche

• Psyche enlightened Cupid's face, a sign of betrayal

Norse Mythology

• Yggdrasil is the World Tree
• Aesir gods are battle gods (live in Asgard)
• Vanir Gods are magical gods
• Odin is the Norse god known as the Raven god"
  • Ravens: Huginn and Munin
• Thor is the most popular god among Scandinavians, portrayed with foes
• Valhalla is the place for deceased Norse heroes

Overview of folk literature, mythology, and myths. Includes the definition of myths as traditional tales about beings, heroes, or events and anthropomorphism ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman things. Explanation of the pattern of flood myths found across cultures.