Mythology
stories from the past...teaching our present
Mythology Genre
Cultures from around the world had different myths and stories to explain beliefs they had.
By reading different myths we can appreciate and compare how different authors use mythical conventions to teach a lesson.
Vocabulary
- Epic tale: A long narrative story dealing with supernatural beings or heros.
Genres
- Myths
-Legends
-Epics
-Fables
-Tall Tale
Characteristics of Myths
- Traditional or ancient story
- Derived from oral narratives
- Deals with supernatural beings or heroes
- Explains a belief or natural happenings
- Seeks to answer life's fundamental questions (who are we? why are we here?)
Themes
Themes give a message about life.
Icarus & Daedalus
Theme: Listen to your elders
Echo
Theme: Jealousy can cause people to do horrible things
Comparing Myths/Oral Narratives
When you compare myths... Look for...
- Purposes of myth
- origin (where it came from)
- beliefs about the afterlife
- beliefs about purpose of life
- roles and characteristics of deities (gods)
- social behavior and values
- how setting affects the story
Fictional Adaptations
Jason and the Argonauts
Clash of the Titans
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Your Objectives...
- Review mythical conventions and be able to identify author's use of them in a myth.
- Compare and contrast different myths for their purposes, conventions, and lessons.
- Compare and contrast a fictional adaptation of a myth and it's original rendition.
- Draw conclusions about the cultures and people from which the myth's derive.
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Practice Your Analyzing Skills
Short Fable: Fox & the Grapes
http://www.umass.edu/aesop/content.php?n=10&i=1
Answer the following questions and write your answers on the writeboard link below:
http://123.writeboard.com/nvbtit007wvq7g9e4avtbtad
Why did the fox want the grapes?
Why did he change his mind?
What theme/message did the fable have?
Connect the fable to something you have experienced. Explain.
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The Bundle of Sticks
http://www.umass.edu/aesop/content.php?n=4&i=1
What was the lesson the sons learned?
Make a text to world connection. How have you seen this in real life?