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Classification of Myths

Myths can be classified into several categories including the origin of the universe, gods, animals, mankind, transformations, heroes, families, nations, social institutions, existence after death, daemons, monsters, and historical events. Legends differ from myths in that legends function as believable reality that are taken seriously, while myths may not directly shape actions and thoughts but indirectly guide them. Legends demand certain conditions to exist, wanting to be believed by both the narrator and listener as presenting reality about things that truly occurred.

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Rathnapala Mahawela
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507 views

Classification of Myths

Myths can be classified into several categories including the origin of the universe, gods, animals, mankind, transformations, heroes, families, nations, social institutions, existence after death, daemons, monsters, and historical events. Legends differ from myths in that legends function as believable reality that are taken seriously, while myths may not directly shape actions and thoughts but indirectly guide them. Legends demand certain conditions to exist, wanting to be believed by both the narrator and listener as presenting reality about things that truly occurred.

Uploaded by

Rathnapala Mahawela
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Classification of myths

Subtitle
Classification of myths
• Periodic natural changes and seasons
• Other natural objects
• Extraordinary or irregular natural phenomena
• The origin of the universe
• The origin of the gods
• The origin of animals and of mankind
• Transformations
• Heros, Families and nations
• Social institutions and inventions
• Existence after death and places of death
• Daemons and monsters
• Historical events
What is a legend ?
• legend functions as believable reality and taken seriously by its
bearers. It is a report of happening that relates to the reality of
the world order. - Beyshleg
• legend is in essence the expression of a truth that reach the
point of formulation. In the environment of a magical world,
determined by mythical thinking. The legend wants to be true, to
report truth. And legend is a historical report describing the
encounter of a mortal with the super human world -Peuckert
• The story becomes a legend only if it is presented in a twilight zone of
credence and doubt.
• Bausinger drew a developmental scheme interpreting the formation of
three kinds of legends.
1. A subjective experience of a fearsome vision indicates
supernatural legends
2. A remarkable real happening, natural phenomenon historical
event or murder is the basis of historical legends.
3. Objectification of existing phenomenon that demands
explanation leads to creation of etiological legends
• Demonology - The study of demons or beliefs about demons,
especially the methods used to summon and control them.
• Historical legends – Robin Hood
King Arthur
• Aetiological Legends - the study of causation, or origination. ...
An etiological myth is a myth intended to explain a name or
create a mythic history for a place or family, an origin story.
• the legend cannot like the fairy tale, find its home anywhere instead
the legend demands certain conditions without which it either cannot
exist at all or can only exist in less perfect form.

• The legend in essence demands to be believed both narrator and


listener: it wants to present reality, tell about things that really took
place .. The legend belongs according to its own awareness, to the
world of reality
Differences between myths and legends
• legends and folk tales reflective of the values of an individual or
a group. A myth may not at once be apparent in our actions and
thoughts, but it effectively shapes and guides how we act and
think.
What we should look in the myth?
• an explanation of our behaviour or a social phenomena
• as a depiction of a non-linguistic, non-conceptual dimension of
reality

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