Fables, Folktales, Myths and Legends: An Online Treasure
Hunt For First Year High School (English)
Authored by F. Tanggaan and P. Arinto
Introduction
Have you heard stories of the aswang and manananggal, the
kapre and the duwende? What about the story of the quarrel between
the monkey and the tortoise? Or stories explaining why the sky is high up in the
heavens and why the ampalaya is bitter?
All these are examples of folklore. There are many types of folklore. In this
lesson, we will study the fable, folktale, legend, and myth. We will find out
how they are different from each other and read some examples of each.
The lesson is in the form of a treasure hunt. The treasures you will look for
are the answers to the questions below. These answers can be found in the
websites listed after the questions. Click on each URL or website address to get
access to the website. Read the questions and websites carefully.
You will work on this activity in groups of three or four. Be sure to work
together. After answering the questions, proceed to the Big Question.
Questions
- Differentiate among myth, legend, and fable in terms of the characters
that can be found in each.
- Among the terms folktale, legend, fable and myth, which is the more
general or inclusive term—meaning, it is a term that includes the others as
types?
- Are legends fictional stories (that is, stories without basis in fact)?
Explain your answer.
- What is the purpose of myths?
- Some famous myths are those involving the Greek and Roman gods and
goddesses, strange creatures, and men and women with extraordinary qualities
(like Hercules). Name a character in Filipino mythology.
- Aside from having animal characters behaving like human beings, what is a
distinguishing feature or element in fables? Cite an example from one of
Aesop’s fables to prove your answer.
Resources
Folktale, myth, fables and legends
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/tradmays.htm
What is a folktale
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/ent/A0819070.html
Types of folktale
http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/irs/folktale.htm
What is mythology
http://www.crystalinks.com/mythology1.html
Aesop’s fables
http://www.knowledgerush.com/books/aesopa10.html
Philippine myths
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/folktales/mythsintroduction.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Harbor/1320/mmnawit.html
http://www.veranda.com.ph/viloria/alamat/
The Big Question
Choose one of the Philippine myths and legends in the websites given above
and write a story map of it. A story map looks like this:
Title of your
story:_________________________________________
Setting:__________________________________________________
Characters:
1.________________________________
2.________________________________
3.________________________________
4.________________________________
5.________________________________
Problem:________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Event 1__________________________________________________
Event 2__________________________________________________
Event 3__________________________________________________
Event 4__________________________________________________
Event 5__________________________________________________
Solution:_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________ |
You are still supposed to work on this as a group. Make sure you all agree
about which legend or myth to analyze. After you have made your choice, you can
assign each member to fill in one set of blanks in the story map. For example,
Member A can identify the setting and characters; Member B can identify the
problem and solution; and Member C can identify the main events.
Submit your story map at the end of the class period. Happy mapping.
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