Intro to role of myths and legends in various cultures

1. Imagine… A world where angry gods throw bolts of lightning at earth… Imagine…

2. Where animals speak to people…

3. And where Spirits live all around you— in the sky, trees and earth…

6. A myth can explain how the world was made... Or what happens when someone does something wrong… Some myths even explain why disasters happen.

7. These are just a few examples of what myths try to explain.

11. A hurricane sweeps through China… A volcanic eruption destroys a town… This myth says the movements of a huge, fire-breathing dragon caused these things to happen.

13. But these animals are more than just creatures. Animals in Native American myths are symbols .

14. Animals sometimes represent ideas of what is good and bad. Other times, they show very human traits —like generosity, greed, or foolishness.

16. But a trickster is sometimes willing to use his cleverness and wit to help others, too.

18. Where anything may happen…