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Mythology and Folklore

This document defines and compares mythology and folklore. Mythology refers to sacred stories that explain phenomena and aspects of human life through supernatural figures like gods and heroes. Folklore encompasses traditional beliefs, tales, and customs passed down orally within a culture. While mythology typically references divine beings, folklore may involve supernatural elements but does not necessarily deal with gods. Both genres embody cultural values and attempt to give meaning to the human experience and natural world.

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1K views3 pages

Mythology and Folklore

This document defines and compares mythology and folklore. Mythology refers to sacred stories that explain phenomena and aspects of human life through supernatural figures like gods and heroes. Folklore encompasses traditional beliefs, tales, and customs passed down orally within a culture. While mythology typically references divine beings, folklore may involve supernatural elements but does not necessarily deal with gods. Both genres embody cultural values and attempt to give meaning to the human experience and natural world.

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JE QUEST
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Mythology and Folklore

Mythology- from the Greek word “mythos” which means for story of the people and “logos” for
word or speech (the spoken story of a people)

 It is the study and interpretation of often sacred tales on which usually deal with the human
condition, good and evil, human origins, life and death, the after life and the Gods.
 It tells the stories of ancestors and the origin of humans and the world, the gods,
supernatural beings (satyrs, nymphs, mermaids) and heroes super human, usually god-
given, powers, (Heracles or Persens of the Greeks)
 describes origins or nuances of long-held customs or explain natural events such as the
sunrise and sunset, the full moon or thunder and lightning storms.
 Example is one of the famous myth of ancient Greece; Demeter- goddess of grain and her
daughter Persephone
 Myths are traditional stories, rooted in a particular culture, that deal with gods, goddesses,
and other supernatural beings, as well as human heroes.
 Myths often embody religious beliefs and values and explain natural phenomena.
 Every early culture has created their own myths.
 Myths surround our daily lives.
 What are some examples of myths that you are aware of?
 Did you eat Cereal for breakfast?
 Research is being conducted on Mars.
 What did Cupid send you for Valentine’s Day?
 It’s Thursday. Is it May or June though?
 Cereal from Cerealia; a festival for Ceres the Roman goddess of the harvest.
 Mars is the Roman god of war.
 Cupid young Roman god.
 Thursday- Thor; Norse god of thunder.
 May- Maia; Greek goddess of the fields.
 June- Juno; Roman goddess of marriage and women
 A myth is a traditional story, rooted in a particular culture.
 Deals with gods and other supernatural beings.
 Can also deal with human heroes.
 Often embody religious beliefs and values and explain natural phenomena.
 Myths can also detail why things occur in life such as the changing of the seasons or reason
for human suffering.

*Types of Myths*

1. Creation Myths- Describe how the world or universe came into being.

2. Origin Myths-Explain the beginning of customs or names of objects .

3. Social Myths-Reinforce or explain social values or practices.

4. Ritual Myths-Explain performance of rituals and religious practices .


Examples:

 Thunder and lightning (Zeus)

 Earthquakes (Poseidon)

 Seasons (Persephone & Demeter)

 The sun rises (Greece: Helios’ chariot, Egypt: Ra and Semektet)

Folklore- generally used to refer to the traditional beliefs, myths, tales and practices of people
which have been disseminated in an informal manner (word of mouth)

 The term “folklore” was first coined by William J. Thoms in 1846, he was a British
antiquarian who wanted a simple term to replace various awkward phrases floating around
at the time to discuss the same concept; phrases such as ‘popular antiquities’, ‘the love of
the people’ and the manners, customs, observances, superstitions, ballads, proverbs etc. Of
the olden times.

*Characteristics of Folklore*

1. Generally part of the oral tradition of a group

2. More frequently told than read

3. Passed down from one generation to another

4. Take on the characteristics of the time and place in which they are told

5. Sometimes take on the personality of the story teller

6. Speak to universal and timeless themes

7. Try to make sense of our existence, help humans cope with the world in which they love, or
explain the origin of something

8. Are often about the common person

9. May contain supernatural elements

10. Function to validate certain aspects of culture

According to Allan Dundes “folk” should be automatically identified with peasant or rural groups
or with the people from the past who share at least one common factor. Rather than offering a
definition of folklore, Dundes provides a list of various types of folklore to demonstrate the large
range of the field of study.
a. Folktales
b. Legends
c. Myths
d. Ballads
e. Festivals
f. Folk dance and song

# Folklores that may not be as obvious #

1. Children’s counting out rhymes


2. Food recipes
3. Latrinalia ( informal writings in public restrooms)
4. Sounds traditionally used to call specific animals.

# Genres of Folklore #

1. Material Culture- folk art, vernacular, architecture, textiles, modified mass-produced objects
2. Music- traditional, folk, and music
3. Narrative- legends, urban legends, fairy tales, folk tales, personal experience narratives
4. Verbal- jokes, proverbs, word games
5. Belief and Religion- folk, religion, ritual and mythology
6. Food ways- traditional cooking and customs, relationships between food and culture

DIVINITY

Mythology Folklore
1. Deals with either gods or their 1. Makes little reference to gods or
progeny goddesses but may have a
2. Storytellers link the heroes of their supernatural element to them
stories to a god or goddess 2. One may encounter witches,
(e.g. Myth of Heracles) dragons, and various monsters with
only an implied link to anything
divine depending on the beliefs of
the author/audience

“If the author makes no reference to any divine being, consider it folklore or legend. If the
author links it to pantheon then you have a mythology”

Prepared by:

Jeric Pangilinan David

ITED,Instructor

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