Exploring Themes Exploring Themes in Literaturein LiteratureUniversal Themes in the Oral Universal Themes in the Oral TraditionTradition

Oral TraditionOral Tradition

Written literature grew Written literature grew out of the oral tradition. out of the oral tradition.

ORAL TRADITION is the ORAL TRADITION is the passing of stories, passing of stories, poems, and sayings by poems, and sayings by word of mouth. word of mouth.

Universal ThemesUniversal Themes

Around campfires and at Around campfires and at other gatherings, people other gatherings, people told stories about LOVE, told stories about LOVE, AMBITION, and AMBITION, and FRIENDSHIP. FRIENDSHIP.

Expressing their human Expressing their human

concerns in stories, they concerns in stories, they explored UNIVERSAL explored UNIVERSAL THEMES. THEMES.

Universal ThemesUniversal Themes

Are insights into life that are true for Are insights into life that are true for many different times and cultures.many different times and cultures.

Examples of Universal Themes:Examples of Universal Themes: the importance of the importance of heroismheroism the power of the power of lovelove the strength of the strength of loyaltyloyalty the the dangersdangers of of greedgreed

ARCHETYPESARCHETYPES

Storytellers explored Storytellers explored such themes by means such themes by means of archetypes. of archetypes.

Archetypes are the Archetypes are the situations, characters, situations, characters, images, and symbols images, and symbols that appear in the tales that appear in the tales of various cultures. of various cultures.

Some Important ArchetypesSome Important Archetypes

The Hero’s QuestThe Hero’s Quest The ProtagonistThe Protagonist The AntagonistThe Antagonist The MonsterThe Monster The TricksterThe Trickster The CircleThe Circle

The SituationThe Situation

THE HERO’S QUESTTHE HERO’S QUEST

In which a brave or In which a brave or clever person clever person undergoes tests or undergoes tests or trials while searching trials while searching for something of for something of great value. great value.

The CharactersThe Characters

The struggle The struggle between the between the PROTAGONIST-the PROTAGONIST-the main character, and main character, and the ANTAGONIST, a the ANTAGONIST, a person or force that person or force that opposes the opposes the protagonist.protagonist.

ImagesImages

The MONSTER, a The MONSTER, a nonhuman or semi-nonhuman or semi-human creature that human creature that menaces human menaces human society and must be society and must be destroyed by the destroyed by the hero. hero.

SymbolsSymbols

The CircleThe Circle

Is a symbol of loyalty, Is a symbol of loyalty, completion, or completion, or protection.protection.

The TricksterThe Trickster

A clever character A clever character who can fool others who can fool others but often gets into but often gets into trouble through trouble through curiosity.curiosity.

Historical ContextHistorical Context

Is the social and cultural background of a Is the social and cultural background of a particular tale. This context influences the particular tale. This context influences the presentation of archetypes. presentation of archetypes.

For Example…...For Example…...

Historical HeroHistorical Hero

A Hero from the past or during the middle A Hero from the past or during the middle ages may look like this….ages may look like this….

Today’s HeroToday’s Hero

May look like this….May look like this….

Yet, even with cultural variations, one Yet, even with cultural variations, one can recognize archetypes across time can recognize archetypes across time and culture.and culture.

Part II Part II Forms that Express Universal ThemesForms that Express Universal Themes

Anonymous Anonymous storytellers storytellers developed various developed various forms to express forms to express universal themes and universal themes and archetypes. archetypes.

At first, these forms At first, these forms lived in the memory, lived in the memory, and a tale might vary and a tale might vary with every telling.with every telling.

FormsForms

Later in history, Later in history, stories were written stories were written down and individual down and individual authors emerged.authors emerged.

MythsMyths Folk TalesFolk Tales LegendsLegends Tall TalesTall Tales EpicsEpics

Myths Myths

Explain the actions of Explain the actions of gods and the gods and the humans who interact humans who interact with them. Myths with them. Myths also explain the also explain the causes of natural causes of natural phenomena. phenomena.

Folk TalesFolk Tales

Focus on human or Focus on human or animal heroes and, animal heroes and, unlike mythsunlike myths, are not , are not primarily concerned primarily concerned with gods or creation. with gods or creation.

Legends and Tall TalesLegends and Tall Tales

Are folk tales that Are folk tales that recount the recount the adventures of a adventures of a human hero and are human hero and are based on a historical based on a historical truth. truth.

A legend told in an A legend told in an exaggerated way is a exaggerated way is a tall tale. tall tale.

EpicEpic

Is a long narrative poem about the Is a long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero whose actions adventures of a hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation reflect the ideals and values of a nation or race. or race.

Epics and the Heroic Epics and the Heroic TraditionTradition

Address universal concerns such as:Address universal concerns such as:

Life and DeathLife and Death Sin and RedemptionSin and Redemption Good and EvilGood and Evil Other serious subjectsOther serious subjects

Epics also reflect timeless values such as courage and honor.Epics also reflect timeless values such as courage and honor.

The Epic HeroThe Epic Hero

The Epic Hero is:The Epic Hero is: a larger-than-life a larger-than-life

figurefigure usually maleusually male take part in a long, take part in a long,

dangerous adventuredangerous adventure

Accomplish great Accomplish great deeds that require deeds that require courage and courage and superhuman strengthsuperhuman strength

They also have They also have human faults such as human faults such as arrogance. arrogance.

The Epic HeroThe Epic Hero

The actions of a true epic hero will often The actions of a true epic hero will often change the fate of a nation or a people. change the fate of a nation or a people.

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The OdysseyThe Odyssey is an Epic Poem is an Epic Poem Odysseus is the Epic HeroOdysseus is the Epic Hero

Quick Quiz Quick Quiz Decide which lettered term or phrase best matches the Decide which lettered term or phrase best matches the numbered phrase.numbered phrase.

1. Example of a universal theme a. the monster b. the power of love1. Example of a universal theme a. the monster b. the power of love

2. Brave person on a quest a. epic hero b. antagonist2. Brave person on a quest a. epic hero b. antagonist

3. Important archetype a. trickster b. culture3. Important archetype a. trickster b. culture

4. Passing on of tales by a. narrative form b. oral tradition4. Passing on of tales by a. narrative form b. oral tradition

word of mouthword of mouth

5. Legend told in an exaggerated a. tall tale b. myth5. Legend told in an exaggerated a. tall tale b. myth

wayway

6. Long narrative poem a. The Odyssey b. Odysseus6. Long narrative poem a. The Odyssey b. Odysseus