This document discusses the key elements of oral tradition and different types of stories from oral traditions. Some common elements of oral tradition include themes, morals, heroes/heroines, and storytelling techniques. Myths are ancient tales that describe the actions of gods and heroes, while legends are based on real people and events but contain more fiction. Epics are long narrative poems about a hero's dangerous journey. Oral tradition helps share cultures and ideas through storytelling which uses techniques like exaggeration and personification.

1. Myths, Epic Tales, and
Storytelling

2. Oral Tradition
• The sharing of stories, cultures, and ideas by
word of mouth.
• Common Elements of Oral Tradition Include:
• -Themes
• -Morals
• -Heroes/Heroines
• -Storytelling

3. Theme-
A central idea, message or
insight a story reveals.
Moral- A lesson about life
that is taught by the story.
EX: “Hard work leads to
success.”

4. Heroes/Heroines
• Larger-than-life figures whose virtues and
deeds are often celebrated in stories from
the oral tradition.

5. Storytelling
• Calls on the talents and personality of the teller to
bring the narrative to life. Storytelling techniques
include hyperbole, or the use of exaggeration or
overstatement (“He was strong as an ox!”), and
personification, the giving of human characteristics
to a non-human subject
• (Ex. A talking fox or an angry tree).

6. Categories of Stories:
• Myths- Ancient tales that describe the actions
of gods, goddesses, and the heroes who
interact with them.
• Legends- Traditional stories about the past.
They are based on real-life events of people,
but they are more fiction than fact.
• Folk Tales- Tell about ordinary people. These
stories reveal the traditions and values of a
culture and teach a lesson about life.

7. Categories of Stories Continued…
• Tall Tales- Folk tales that contain hyperbole.
• Fables- Brief animal stories that contain
personification. Fables often end with a moral
or lesson.
• Epics- Long narrative poems about a hero who
engages in a dangerous journey.

8. Myths
• Stories that explain natural occurrences and
express beliefs about right and wrong. Also
known as, “mythology."

9. Myths Will Perform Some of the
Following Functions:
• Explain natural occurrences.
• Express beliefs about right and wrong.
• Show gods or goddesses with human traits.
• Show human heroes with superhuman traits.
• Explore universal themes.

10. Don’t Forget These Fiction Structural
Patterns!
• Hero’s Journey- A structural pattern where the
archetype known as the hero goes on a journey
to help another person or group of people.
• Hero’s Tasks- A convention in myths and epic
tales in which the hero embarks on a journey and
must complete a series of tests or challenges
along the way.
• Quests- A structural pattern where the main
character goes on a journey to seek a goal.
• Circle Stories- A structural pattern where the
story begins and ends in the same place.