Learning Objective: Today we will evaluate common symbols that are found in myths and tradition by using literature from different eras and culture.

• evaluate= figure out• traditions= practices that certain people do

What are we going to understand today?

Today we will evaluate common symbols that are found in myths and tradition by using literature from different eras and culture.

Eras

Time periods in historyFor example:Ice AgeTime of the DinosaursMedieval Times (Queens, castles, and Kings)Dynasty (Chinese Dynasty)

Culture

Values shared by a societyFor example:

Mexican Culture American Culture

Food-Tacos Food-Hamburger

Clothes-Sarapes Clothes-jersey

Shoes-huaraches Shoes-sandals

Myths

A story that explains something about the world and typically involves gods or other supernatural forces.

For Example:Hercules

It is important to understand the common symbols that are found in myths and tradition by using literature from different eras and culture.

What are other reasons it is important to understand the common symbols that are found in

myths and tradition by using literature from different eras and culture.

To understand the different symbols in literature!It will be tested!

What is Superman considered?

What is Spiderman Considered?

That’s right! They are both Heroes!

All our stories are full of symbols !

Universal Ideas

Many ideas are universal. This means that they span different times and different cultures. Many similar character types appear from

culture to culture.

Many similar character types appear from culture to culture.

For example, the wise man and the fool are character types that appear around the world. The clever

trickster appears from culture to culture and from time to time. So does the frog who turns out to be a prince and the girl who goes from rags to riches.

This is because the ideas these characters types represent are universal. The ideas of wisdom,

cunning and trickery, appearances being deceiving, and fortunes changing are constants. People have

thought about them no matter where or when they lived.

Folktales

The same folktales may travel from culture to culture. With each retelling, details like character names and appearance or plot

details get changed. The way the story is told-its style-changes. But the basic meaning of

the tale-its universal truth-remains the same.

For example:

Long ago in ancient Greece, Aesop told a fable about a rabbit and a tortoise who have a race.

Surprisingly, the tortoise wins. The message of this fable is, “Slow and steady wins the

race.” The same message appears in fables and folktales from around the world.

All cultures have told stories about how something came to be. Wherever and whenever people have lived, they have looked at their surroundings and

asked “Why?” Tales that tell why something happened are called “pourquoi” tales. Pourquoi is a French word that means “why.” These tales of how something began or originated are also called “just-

so” stories. You may have read an African legend telling how the leopard got its spots. You may have

read a South American legend about why a chameleon changes color. All of these legends seek

to answer the question “Why?”

SymbolsAn object or person used to represent

something in a story.

Let’s evaluate what these symbols represent

What does a red rose represent?Love!What does a white dove represent?Peace!What does American Flag?Freedom!What does wearing black represent?Death or sadness

Let’s look at some symbols in some pieces of literature!King Midas’ Touch

King Midas was a very kind man who ruled his kingdom fairly, but he was not one to think very deeply about what he said. One day, while walking in his garden, he saw an elderly satyr asleep in the flowers. Taking pity on the old fellow, King Midas let him go without punishment. When the god Dionysus heard about it, he rewarded King Midas by granting him one wish. The king thought for only a second and then said I wish for everything I touch to turn to gold." And so it was.

The beautiful flowers in his garden turned toward the sun for light, but when Midas approached and touched them, they stood rigid and gold. The king grew hungry and thin, for each time he tried to eat, he found that his meal had turned to gold. His lovely daughter, at his loving touch, turned hard and fast to gold. His water, his bed, his clothes, his friends, and eventually the whole palace was gold.

King Midas saw that soon his whole kingdom would turn to gold unless he did something right away. He asked Dionysus to turn everything back to the way it had been and take back his golden touch. Because the king was ashamed and very sad, Dionysus took pity on him and granted his request. Instantly, King Midas was poorer that he had been, but richer, he felt, in the things that really count.

What does King Midas’ touch represent?

That’s right!It represents Greed!

Steps to evaluating common symbols that are found in myths and tradition by using literature

from different eras and culture. 1. Read the story2. As you’re reading the story, look for symbols.3. Think about what the symbols might

represent.4. Answer the question

Let’s practice with some short stories to evaluate the meaning

of common symbols that are found in myths and tradition by using literature from different

eras and cultures.

Hare was angry with both the elephant and the hippopotamus, for they lived on the same island as he did and ordered him about in the most officious way. The trouble with living on a small island was that they could hardly help meeting each other, since there was not a great deal of room. So Hare decided to play a trick on the elephant and the hippo which would make them respect him. (Why does Hare decide to play a trick on the elephant and the hippo?)

First of all he went into the center of the island, where there were large trees with thick creepers growing up their trunks and over their branches. Hare spent a whole morning twisting some of these creepers into a strong rope; then, laughing softly to himself, he sought out the elephant. He found him on the eastern side of the island squirting water over his back and trumpeting with pleasure. (What word tells you how Hare feels? Why does he feel this way?)

“Good afternoon, Elephant,” called Hare. “Which of us would you say is the stronger?” (How do you know the Hare is planning to trick Elephant when he asks this question?)

.

The elephant laughed loudly and squirted Hare with water, knocking him flat on his back

“What a question to ask!” he said. “Of course, I am stronger than you. Shall I prove it by trampling you to death?”

“Oh no!” exclaimed Hare. “But you could prove it by having a tug of war with me.”

The elephant laughed indulgently and said there was no doubt that he would soon win a tug of war.

“Here is the rope,” said Hare. “Tie it round your leg while I go to the forest in the middle of the island. But do not pull until I give three sharp tugs. Then do your worst!”

Hare left the elephant tying the rope round his front leg, and seizing the other end of the rope. He dashed through the forest and came out on the other side of the island where the hippo was lying at the edge of the water, sunning himself. (What do you predict Hare will do now?)

Good afternoon, Hippo,” shouted Hare from a safe distance. “Which of us would you say is the stronger?”

The hippo opened his huge red mouth and yawned, showing his strong white teeth.

“What a question to ask!” he said. “Of course, I am stronger than you. I could eat you in one mouthful. Shall I try?”

“Oh no!” cried Hare. “But you could prove it by having a tug of war with me.”

The hippos said it would be a waste of his energy since it was obvious that he could pull Hare into the water in no time at all. But at last Hare persuaded him to tie the end of the rope round his body, and the hippo promised not to begin pulling until Hare gave three tugs on the rope.

Hare scampered off into the forest until he was well hidden from both animals, and then gave three sharp tugs to the middle of the rope. (What is Hare’s trick?)

How the elephant tugged and bellowed while the hippo groaned and heaved! But as they were so equally matched, neither could move the other far. First of all, the hippo found himself being dragged out of the water a little way up the beach, so he pulled even more frantically until he got back to the water’s edge, when it was the elephant’s turn to be dragged from the sea. They continued like this for some time, making more noise than had ever been heard on the island before. Hare, who could hear it all, was thoroughly enjoying himself, and the elephant and the hippo would have gone on their tug of war for days, had not the wicked hare seized a knife and slashed through the middle of the rope.

Immediately tremendous roars of rage reached his ears and two loud splashes told Hare that his trick had been a success. But he kept out of the way of the elephant and the hippo for a long time afterward, as you can well imagine. (Why does Hare keep out of Elephant’s and Hippo’s way?)

Steps to evaluating common symbols that are found in myths and tradition by using literature from different eras and culture.

1. Read the story2. As you’re reading the story, look for symbols.3. Think about what the symbols might represent.4. Answer the question

What character type does Hare represent?a) Friendlyb) Mean and spitefulc) Tricksterd) Playful and friendly

What Character type do Hippo and Elephant represent?e) Mean and easy spiritedf) Big and strongg) Mean and spitefullh) Gullible and easy to fool

How does Hare defeat Hippo and Elephant?i) Being friendlyj) Being mean and spitefulk) Playing a trick on theml) Being playful and friendly

Many trickster characters are too smart for their own good. Is this true of Hare?

Why is it important to evaluate common symbols that are found in

myths and tradition by using literature from different eras and culture.

To be able to understand the symbols in the story!