This document defines and provides characteristics of various mythological figures such as legends, fables, folktales, and fairytales. It then discusses myths in more detail, noting that myths aim to explain cultural phenomena and rituals through stories featuring heroes and gods/demigods that impart lessons. Creation myths specifically seek to explain the origin of the earth/universe, often featuring supreme beings and local animals. Flood myths reset the world through deluges, appearing globally with themes of punishment and rebirth. Tricksters, a universal archetype, use intelligence and cunning to defy norms, found as animal, human and spirit figures like Coyote, Brer Rabbit, Anansi and the Monkey King across various cultures

1. Definitions and Characteristics

2.  Legends: a non-historical or unverifiable story handed down by
tradition from earlier times and popularly accepted as
historical.
 Fable: a short tale to teach a moral lesson, often with animals
or inanimate objects as characters;
 Folktales: a tale or legend originating and traditional among a
people or folk, especially one forming part of the oral tradition
of the common people.
 Fairytales: a story, usually for children, about elves,
hobgoblins, dragons, fairies, or other magical creatures.
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3.  A story that explains a phenomenon,
cultural practice, or ritual
 A myth is not an urban legend or false
story!
 “Mythology is not a lie, mythology is
poetry, it is metaphorical.”
Joseph Campbell

4.  Feature a hero
 Deal with gods and demigods
 Intended to teach a lesson
 Some may have factual origins
 Include sacred tales and traditions
 Universality

5. CREATION
MYTHS
 A specific type of myth that concerns
the origin of a specific phenomenon
 Some creation myths deal with how
the earth or space came to be, but
not all seek to explain this
 The intention of a creation myth is to
place a group of people in their
physical world

6.  Every society on Earth has a creation myth
 Frequently feature the theme of birth or include a parental figure
 Often utilize local animals
 Almost always describe a supreme being
 Some myths describe life as beginning above or below where it is now
 Some myths describe an initial harmony amongst animals

8. Most simply put, flood stories are about resetting the world:
A deluge sweeps over the land, washing away the “old.”
Flood stories occur all over the world; there is at least one
on every continent.
Many mythologists believe that flood stories are born as a
means of explaining a natural disaster and therefore will
only appear in regions of the world where flooding is likely
to happen.

9. Elements of Floods
Floods are the works of a
supernatural being or beings,
often as punishment for human
iniquities.
Floods are global; they cover
the entire world.
An individual or group of
individuals is spared.
Floods are often associated
with rebirth and renewal.
They wash away the original
creation and act as a new
creation story.

10. The great flood of Gilgamesh
(Babylon)
The survivor of the great
flood is impregnated by
the water of life (Apache)
Vishnu,
taking
the form
of a fish,
saves the
last
surviving
humans
(India)
Gun and Yu attempt to stop the
flooding of the world with magic
soil (China)

11. Tricksters
A brief overview

12. A Universal Archetype
 A creature, person, or spirit in a myth who plays tricks and uses cunning to defy cultural
norms
 Tricksters are found in every society on earth
 Tricksters frequently serve to teach a lesson or impart morals
 The characteristics of tricksters
 Intelligent
 Usually male
 Are often smaller, less aggressive animals or people
 Spirit tricksters spread chaos for the sake of chaos
 Move from geographical location and adapt
 Evolve and change over time
 Can be malicious

13. The three Types of Trickster
Animal Spirit Human

14. Coyote
North AMerica
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15. Coyote is the predominant trickster of
North America, appearing in the
folklore of many tribes across the
continent. Depending on the story, he sometimes
uses his talents to help humans, but
other times he uses his talents for his
own gain and causes chaos.
His role has changed significantly over 200 years
according to Richard Erdoes: “Just as in real life,
Coyote survives and thrives in spite of traps,
poison, and a rancher’s bullets, so the Coyote of
legend survives the onslaught of white American
culture.”

16. Brer Rabbit
Southeastern US

17. Brer Rabbit is a prime example of how
tricksters change over time. You may
recognize his derivative, Bugs Bunny.
Brer Rabbit appears in the collection
Uncle Remus, published in the late
19th Century. The book serves as a
collection of Southern American
myths and folktales.
Like Anansi the Spider, Brer
Rabbit originated in Western
Africa. Many cultures across the
region feature a wily hare. Once in
New World, the hare fused with
Cherokee tradition to become Brer
Rabbit.
Brer Rabbit is often seen in the
company of fellow trickster Brer
Fox and slow-witted Brer Bear.

18. Anansi
West Africa and the Caribbean

19.  Anansi takes the shape of a spider and is considered to be the spirit of all knowledge of
stories
 Though usually a spider, he has been known to change his appearance. He has changed
into a human and a hare, which connects him to Brer Rabbit
 The character originates from the Akan people of Ghana
 As he spread to North America, he became known as Aunt Nancy or Miss Nancy in
African American folklore

20. The monkey King
China

21. Sun Wukong, Demigod
 The Monkey King originally appeared in the 16th
Century epic Journey to the West and his since
become a beloved character throughout China
 Unlike most tricksters, he is very powerful and
wields a massive staff that only he can lift
 Sun Wukong is born from a stone and uses his wits
to distinguish himself among the other monkeys;
they make him their king
 He then seeks to become a god. The Jade Emperor
allows him into Heaven, but insults him
 From there, Sun Wukong wreaks havoc on Heaven

22. Modern Tricksters