Myths, Legends and Folktales

1. Myths, Legends and Folktales

2. This term we will be thinking about • What is the purpose of stories in our society? • What do these stories tell us about the culture they come form? • How are stories shaped? • Are there similarities between stories from different cultures?

3. Assessments • Week 6: Research assignment • Week 9-10: Speaking presentation

4. Stories • Humans have been telling stories to each other since the advent of language. • Even before then, people told stories through painting and drawing. • Many of these stories were passed down orally before being written down.

5. Legends • Usually based on a true event, but may be exaggerated. • Will often have been passed down through generations.

6. Myths • Different from legends. • Loosely based on real life, but more of a story that teaches about an important event. • Often used to explain the world and things like natural disasters, the setting of the sun. Some myths are thousands of years old.

7. Folktales • Stories that have been passed down through generations in spoken form. • We often don’t know the original author. • There are often many different versions. • Venn diagram.

8. Can you think of any Maori myths and legends?

9. Kupe’s travel around Aotearoa – Kupe’s battle with a giant octpus • Maui – How he slowed the sun-How he fished up Aotearoa-How he brought fire to the world