persuasive essay about myths and legends

Essay on Myths And Legends

Students are often asked to write an essay on Myths And Legends in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Myths And Legends

Understanding myths and legends.

Myths and legends are stories from long ago. They are full of adventure and often teach lessons. Myths usually explain how something in nature or human behavior began. Legends are tales about heroes and their brave deeds. Both are passed down through generations and are important in every culture.

Differences Between Myths and Legends

Myths are often about gods and magic, and they explain mysteries of life. Legends are usually about people who might have lived. They tell about their courage and strength. While myths are more about belief, legends can be partly true.

Why Myths and Legends Matter

These stories are more than just tales. They give us morals and show us how to act. They connect us to our past and to people everywhere. Myths and legends help us understand different cultures and their values. They are a bridge to the world’s history.

250 Words Essay on Myths And Legends

What are myths and legends.

Myths and legends are stories that have been told for a very long time. They are like a bridge that connects us to the past. Myths are often about gods, goddesses, and supernatural beings. They try to explain how the world was made and why things happen. Legends are a bit different. They are usually about heroes and famous people. Both myths and legends teach us lessons and share the values of the culture they come from.

The Purpose of Myths and Legends

It’s important to know that myths and legends are not the same as fairy tales or fables. Myths are mostly about gods and are sacred to the people who believe in them. Legends are often based on real events or people but are exaggerated over time. Unlike fairy tales, legends can sometimes be true.

Why We Still Love These Stories

Even today, we love these old stories. They are exciting and full of adventure. They help us dream and imagine. Plus, they bring people together because they are stories everyone can share. Myths and legends are like treasures from long ago that still sparkle and shine for us to enjoy.

500 Words Essay on Myths And Legends

Long ago, before science could explain the mysteries of the world, people used stories to make sense of things. These stories are what we call myths and legends. Myths are tales that were told to explain natural events, like thunder and lightning, or the changing of the seasons. Legends are a bit different; they are stories that are told about people and their actions or great events, and sometimes they are based on real historical figures, but they are often exaggerated.

You might wonder why we should care about these old stories today. Myths and legends are important because they were the way our ancestors shared their values and beliefs. They helped to teach younger generations about the culture and traditions of their people. Even in today’s world, these stories can teach us a lot about how people in the past saw the world and can help us understand different cultures better.

The Heroes and Creatures

One exciting part of myths and legends is the heroes and magical creatures. Heroes like Hercules from Greek mythology or King Arthur from British legends were admired for their strength and bravery. Then there are the creatures like dragons, unicorns, and the Loch Ness Monster, which add a touch of magic and mystery to these stories. These characters often face challenges or go on quests that test their courage and wisdom.

Lessons from Myths and Legends

Myths and legends around the world.

Every culture has its own set of myths and legends. From the Norse tales of Odin and Thor to the Native American stories of the trickster coyote, these stories vary widely. By sharing myths and legends from around the world, we can learn to appreciate the diversity of human storytelling and the shared themes that connect us all.

Keeping Myths and Legends Alive

Even though myths and legends are old, they are still very much alive today. They can be found in books, movies, and even video games. Many modern stories are inspired by these ancient tales, and by keeping them alive, we ensure that the wisdom and creativity of our ancestors continue to inspire us.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Myths, Legends and Fantasies: why do we read them, why do we watch them?

Posted on October 12, 2013 by the Editor

Myths, legend, fantasies are interrelated. Myths and legends are symbolic representations of reality. Legend usually encompasses myths and fantasies. They contain strong wisdom that humans experience. Legends generally have a hero, or a heroine, and contain some truth or historic fact. It may also contain fantasy places or fantasy monster. Examples of legendary stories are those surrounding “King Arthur” and “The Lord of the Ring”. Myths often speak of supernatural being and contain content that might be compared to real life situation.

Many people watch and read legendary movies for various reasons. One of the reasons why people read and watch them is for pleasure. That is, people read them for relaxation or during their leisure time just to have fun and keep them busy. An example is the legend of “King Arthur” a lot of people know of the old popular historic event. Many people have keen interest in the book in order to have idea about the whole saga. Not only that, when the movie of the history was released a lot of people also watched it.

The people that read it were more interested in watching the movie. The reason is because they get to understand it better and also get to see a lot of things they’ve not seen before. Talk of the mythical creatures, like the dragon and so many others which were also mentioned in the book. Another thrilling thing about the movie is that you get to see fantasy places like “Isle of the dead” and many sacred magic places that one could not possibly imagine.

Another reason we read and watch legendary movies is to learn about the history behind such legend. Legends are usually very old and have a significant meaning in the culture in which they arise sometimes spiritual meaning. For example, it is said that “King Arthur” legend symbolizes “Englishness” and the history was traced back to the old England. Another typical example of a myth is that traced back to West Africa “Nigeria”. The mythical history of “Oduduwa” who was known as the father of the great “Yoruba” land. He was known to be very powerful and some people believe he passed the power down to the following generations. Some of his descendants in the later generation are “Sango” the god of Thunder, “Ogun” the god of Iron. Till now some people still believe in this descendant and call them gods because of their power.

More so, people read and watch legendary movies in order to broaden their horizon. Ever since I have been watching legendary movies, I got to know of different thrilling things like the mythical creatures, fantasy places, evil or dark magic and many more. I also acquired inspiration from some of the movies like “King Arthur”. The legend “King Arthur” went through so many difficulties which he bore with courage and later overcome all the barriers.

In addition, it is said that when you do good you receive good in return and when you do evil you’ll get it. There are lot of things that one could not possibly imagine could happen in reality but you get to see them in these movies. An example of this is the legend “King Arthur”, whose father detest magic so much not knowing her own daughter has magical power. He was later betrayed by her daughter, because she was shown how to use the magic for evil things. In the end she got what she deserved. This event teaches that you should watch whatever you do because that is what you will get. It also teaches to be courageous. Like in the case of “King Arthur” who was betrayed by his half sister.

Finally people read legend and mythical books in order to improve their vocabularies and also learn the skills of narration. Though some people may find reading a bit boring, it’s best to go for both reading and watching.

2 comments on “ Myths, Legends and Fantasies: why do we read them, why do we watch them? ”

This is very helpful!!!

well argued article

Human Belief in Myths and Legends Essay

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Introduction

Works cited.

The history of humankind is riddled with myths and legends, original to each culture and coming from different times. In modern times, there are many refutations of most of them, and the term myth itself is associated with fiction and untruth. However, suppose one understands the meaning and the reasons for their creation, which in most cases are similar regardless of the area of origin of the legend. In that case, sincere belief is not necessary for an educated person. Since the purpose of such stories and tales is mainly to set moral or ethical standards, examples to follow, or goals to achieve, there is no longer a need for blind faith in ancient myths in a conscious society.

From the perspective of human psychology, one can easily explain the fascination for epic stories in the past, when the level of information saturation of space was minimal, and the aim of most people was mainly to survive. According to Shynkaruk et al., fairy tales and myths are one way of interpreting and making sense of the world around today (2018, p. 19). One can agree with this because the heritage of one’s own culture contained in legends carries a large part of the cultural code that can shape the identity of a member of a nation. However, belief in details or the veracity of what is happening is irrelevant. According to Aron, the factuality of most such legends is virtually impossible to prove (2000). Other researchers note the critical relation of myths to cultural history and emphasize the need to investigate them not to prove their veracity but to preserve their value (Dégh and Vázsonyi 93). In addition, refutation or the search for evidence is mostly meaningless because of the distortion of minutiae in the legends and their age.

In conclusion, the basic confirmation of the paper’s thesis is highlighted: there should not exist a need to believe or not to believe in ancient stories. Their purpose for modern humans is to comprehend a pattern of thinking, everyday life, and culture of their own or other people’s ancestors, which has survived to our times. The awareness of the norms of behavior and morality embedded in most of them should be understood by every rational person without attempting a pointless search for evidence of the existence of myths.

Aron, Paul. Unsolved Mysteries of History: An Eye-opening Investigation Into the Most Baffling Events of All Time . Wiley, 2000.

Dégh, Linda, and Andrew Vázsonyi. “ 6. Legend and Belief .” Folklore Genres (eBook) , University of Texas Press, 2021, pp. 93–124, Web.

Shynkaruk, Vasyl, et al. “ Myth as a Phenomenon of Culture .” National Academy of Managerial Staff of Culture and Arts Herald , vol. 1, no. 4, 2018, pp. 17–22, Web.

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Myths And The Role They Play In Society Argumentative Essay Examples

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Literature , Movies , Disney , Cinema , God , Gift , Mythology , Greed

Words: 3250

Published: 02/16/2020

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Long before we had books and places to store information, people used story telling as a form of passing their message from one generation to the next. Most of these stories were used to teach about national pride or the great works of their various gods and this gave rise to myths and legends. As time went on these stories also began to change to make them fit whatever the current generation was. The early Greeks were experts in the use of myths and many of their myths are still being read and studied and made into movies today. Today, however Walt Disney has taken these myths one step further in his story telling of Disney’s princesses and many of the trials they had to endure in order to get to the finish line. This essay will look at one myth each from ancient Greece and the Disney respectively. The story of King Midas has been told for a very long time and the moral of the story still rings true today. This story teaches about the dangers of greed. However there are people that have addressed successful business men as having Midas touch. I would therefore ask what exactly can be learnt from King Midas. Many people go away from that story wondering if greed is indeed good or bad or how much money you need to make to be considered greedy. The ancient Greeks believed that their gods usually come down from mount Olympus and meddle in the affairs of men. There are many stories of great men who were bore out of a union of a man and a god, or men that accomplished great things through the personal help of their gods. The myth of Midas and the golden touch is not any different as we see the god Dionysus interacts with Midas. As Joseph Campbell stated in The Monomyth “myths of man has flourished” The myth tells us that he was on a journey when one of his companions got lost. Silenus, who was also a teacher of Dionysus ended up at the king’s palace and after a feast was returned back to the god. The god of wine was pleased to receive his companion back and offered to give Midas a gift – he says any wish he makes will be granted. After serious thought king Midas wanted everything he touched to be turned to gold and this request was granted to him. Now what he did not think about was that nothing would be excluded from everything so he would go to eat and on touching his food that too would be turned to gold. This does prove to be very difficult and Midas goes back to Dionysus and begs for the gift to be reversed and he was told to go bathe in river Pactolus and he does. This whole process has now turned him away from money to the point that he wanders the wilderness instead of returning to his palace where he was king. When Midas made his wish he felt his life would never be the same and while that was true it wasn’t the change he was expecting or hoping for. While he was happy to find that he could in fact turn anything to gold, he soon realized to his dismay that when he touched his food that turned to gold as well. Greed is addressed in this story of king Midas and his golden touch and that is usually the moral that is passed on whenever this myth is repeated. In trying to understand if greed in this case can be seen as good or evil I took a closer look at the events that took place before Midas was given the touch of gold. We are not told that Midas was a bad king and we have evidence to the contrary as we see him take in Silenus and hold a party for him after which he returned him to the god who must have been looking for him. It is only expected that he is rewarded for his good deed and Dionysus offers to do this. Most poets who have told this story have not really given a definite reason as to why Midas chose this gift and others have come out straight to say that he was a greedy man who loved gold more than anything else and his gift is seen as a proof of that. In this story it is clear to see that everything happened as a result of choice and effects or circumstance. Midas did a good deed and he was rewarded with a wish. He made a wish that in hindsight was not the best of choices and he paid for it with starvation till he had to beg for its reversal. After the gift was taken back from him he chose to stay as far away from the wealth that had made his life miserable and instead moved to the wild. We see in this myth a change from how most other Greek mythology is formed or told. Achilles did not choose to be strong but was made that way and neither did Hercules for that matter - .their destiny came as a result of fate as they had no hand in the events that led to people retelling their stories centuries later. However Midas got everything he did through the choices he made. While this myth does not really delve into the personality of Dionysus, Ovid the poet mentions that the god felt sorry with the choice of a gift that Midas made as he expected him to make a better one. The funny thing to notice here is that although the god feels the king made a wrong choice he still went ahead to grant the wish anyway. Many have stated that he did this to keep his word but others have claimed that the god wanted the king to experience first-hand the consequences of his decision. I tend to agree with the latter as the moral of this myth is usually on the topic of greed and its consequences. While this particular myth is centered on king Midas and the consequences of his many decisions, people could look at this story and call the king an idiot. However when the story is looked at not from the point of the king but rather greed; king Midas then just acts as a tool showing us the dangers of being greedy. Looking at the parable from this angle we now see how difficult it is to judge Midas as a normal character. We now have to judge him as a tool that really can’t be judged. In trying to do this we have to ask ourselves how effective was Midas in teaching us about greed. This was a man who was greedy and then had to pay the price of greed so we can say that greed is bad. However he also got redemption when he asked Dionysus to reverse the gift which he now saw as a curse. Are we then to say that it is okay to be greedy as long as you recognize it before it kills you and ask for forgiveness and help? The myth of king Midas and the golden touch is one that has been retold for almost two thousand years. This story is almost always told to show the dangers of greed so we can say that Midas symbolizes greed. However 2,000 years after this story was first told we can expect to see some changes begin to creep into this myth as times changes as well. In a country like America which is a majorly capitalist society the understanding of greed begins to change. It is no longer seen as a bad thing to make lots of money and in most cases it is considered as being successful which is now termed a good thing. So in these times while Midas is still seen as a greedy man the golden touch he was bestowed with is now seen in our society as a thing of value – hence you hear the term of someone with a golden touch as a compliment and no longer a negative symbol. It is a common thing for people to be rewarded for doing well and this is very common in ancient Greek mythology. The gods were quick to give gifts to people that have done well and Midas was no exception. The fact that Dionysus was able to give a gift to Midas for the favor he did was to show the power and benevolence of the gods of the ancient Greeks. When Midas realizes that his gift was not the best he could have asked for he went back to Dionysus and asked for a reversal of fortune and this too was granted him. This myth therefore also shows that when you acknowledge your mistake you can get redemption. Now this paints the picture that the gods of ancient Greece were not very different from those of our modern religions. Many of us have heard the saying – be careful what you wish for as you may just get it. While I can’t really say if it got its origin from the myth of king Midas it can be applied to it. As people we all have wishes and hope they come true but there are also many instances where people have had their wishes and it never ends well for them after that. A good example would be a couple of lottery winners whose lives became worse after they had won the lottery. Could it be that as humans we can’t deal with the weight of our wishes been fulfilled. Midas could only see the immediate gain that would come with having everything he touched turn to gold that he did not stop and consider the dangers involved. If he did I am very sure he may have chosen a different gift. Although the story of the golden touch is indeed a myth king Midas is a real historical figure that ruled Phrygia in what is in today’s Asia in the 8th century BCE .This myth explains the punishment for greed and although today the term Midas touch is seen more as a good thing than an evil thing, Midas is still used as a personification of greed and greed has been termed as one of the seven deadly sins.

Tiana – The Disney Princess

Most Disney pictures have been accused of portraying the myth that beauty is power. The Princess and the Frog was praised by many groups as been the first Disney movie with a black heroine in Tiana. Unfortunately Tiana is not a princess but a girl from a struggling home and it is her beautiful white friend that has a rich upbringing. We also see femininity as something less than masculinity and even in a movie that supposedly stars Tiana, being white is viewed as the norm. Although boys watch Disney movies as well, girls are the major target audience and these little girls are changed by what they see in these movies as truths. Disney has always selected their heroines based on goodness and looks. Walt Disney has said personally that there is always a lot of exaggeration in cartoon characters. While people complimented the interracial coupling of the princess and the frog it should be noted that they fell in love as frogs and were as a reason the same so their colour does not play any part in the character’s progression. Children are very impressionable and they are easy targets for consuming what popular culture sells to them. Many critics have given Disney a poor mark in their portrayal of race and gender in their movies. Disney over the years has become such a commercial force that you hardly find a house with a girl who at one point never wanted to be a Disney princess. This business has sold everything from movies to theme parks to consumables and impressionable kids are more than willing to be a part of that magic - even for a day. However most Disney fairy tales hide the ideas they pass on race and gender. They have taken historical fact and made them pretty enough to be consumed by the young viewers but in so doing they have also changed some of the valuable lessons that would have been learnt otherwise. In the princess and the frog, the females of African American background were highly stereotyped as we saw them live in a small black community while making chicken gumbo. Tiana’s dad had a dream of owning a restaurant where he could sell his gumbo but he dies leaving Tiana and her mother to fend for themselves. At the end of the movie through the help of a wishing star she gets her father’s dream achieved and gets the restaurant. Interracial relationships have been on the rise over time and while on the surface this seemed to be one of such relationships, it should be noted as I said earlier that the majority of the relationship happened with them as frogs. Another thing of importance is the fact that Tiana was changed to a frog. Looking through the Disney universe we see people turned into animals as a result of a problem or a fault as can be seen from the Beast in Beauty and the Beast who was turned to a beast because he was a cold man that did not respect his servants. One could be led to ask the question then – why was Tiana changed to an animal? What was wrong with her? It therefore did not paint a good picture that the first African American Disney princess had to endure been a frog. With regards to look Tiana is also not the norm for African Americans and is therefore not really relatable. Most African Americans will tell you that growing up they were encouraged to eat and we all know that foods deemed as African American comfort foods usually makes one pile the weight. It is therefore hard to believe that an African American lady that grew up during slavery eating chicken gumbo would turn out that thin. Sigmund Freud has stated that the first half of a child’s life is difficult (Campbell 8) Impressionable young girls consume any message they are told to and these messages in future help to shape them into the women they become and in so doing build their social values. Self-esteem has been defined as the picture one has of their self so they could either have low self-esteem or good self-esteem. Having a low self-esteem can affect other areas of one’s life and many people have fallen into depression as a result of low self-esteem. Now if the message that Disney is passing to girls creates a lie about their body image then those are myths that should be addressed properly for the sake of the next generation. Disney needs to consciously play a part in this turn around of what has been believed to be right by young girls who grow up to be women. Disney has for a long time fed people the myth that beauty is power and as a result young kids already consider themselves to be losers before they even venture into the real world because they do not fit the mould set by Disney on what is beautiful and right. Disney has always been about your dream coming true and just like I showed in the previous myth; it is not always a joyful thing to have your wish come true. The major story a child who watches the Princess and the Frog comes away with is this – a dream is a wish that will eventually come true. And while Disney may have had some missteps in the retelling of this myth I do agree that the things they did well was very well done. They taught empowerment through a girl who would not let her father’s dream die with him but instead did all she could to get the restaurant of his dreams. If that is the only dream Disney made come true in this film then they chose the right one. In conclusion I will compare and contrast these two myths and see if myths have a plan that makes them all align to the same pattern or if they are indeed different. It must be noted here that myths do not have scientifically researched material for storage of information so the stories that myth are made of change over time. In King Midas and Tiana we see them both making a wish and watching the wish turn bad, we also see them getting the wish reversed and while Tiana went on to be better off than before she made the wish the same cannot be said about king Midas who loathed gold so much that he went to reside in the wild and there he worshipped the god of the wilderness. I do agree that there is a place for myths in our lives but I wish they could be changed for the better. Most of these myths were written before we were conceived and times have changed and these myths should acknowledge that fact. Looking at Tiana it will be a bit hard for the girls in the black community to watch and think – oh that could be me someday. Disney who happens to be one of the biggest marketers for such products should entertain little girls with believable features. It is one thing where a girl is dreaming about finding her own prince. She should not be made to leave that movie theatre with the belief that even if the prince does come he will not come for someone with her body types. As we watch our world change and see our values change, we should still be able to read myths and go away with lessons like the perils of greed and the reward in good work. If these are all we can get from our myths, then they are still achieving the reasons they were sent out in the first place.

Works Cited:

Shmoop Editorial Team. "Similar Myths to King Midas in Other Cultures" Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 9 Oct. 2013. http://www.shmoop.com/king-midas/ Coccia, Leviana. Disney Princesses Posing a Royal Problem: A Look at how Cinderella, Mulan and the Princess and the Frog Impact the Lives of Young Female Audiences. 24 Nov. 2011. Web. 09 Oct. 2013. http://levianacoccia.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/disney-princesses-posing-a-royal-problem.pdf Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Canada: Green Press Initiative, 2008. EBook. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=I1uFuXlvFgMC&pg=PP5&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false The Princess and the Frog. dir. Clements & Musker. perf. Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David. Walt Disney Studios, 2009. Film. Sparknotes Editorial Team. “Ovid’s Metamorphoses.” Sparknotes.com. Web. 9 Oct. 2013. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/metamorphoses

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Stories, myths and metaphors in persuasive writing

Since ancient times ideas and values embedded in mythic stories have educated, inspired and motivated listeners.

Martin luther king did not just “..have a dream .” he communicated his dream in words, stories and metaphor. in doing so, he became a mythic hero and the catalyst for a social movement..

The word myth means story. But a genuine myth is not just any story; it is a story of an encounter with universal human energies and experiences. It is a door to another world.

A myth is more than; it’s a metaphor for life experiences.

Through stories, the chaos of our life experience is put into a simple linear form by the storyteller. This somehow makes it easier to bear, more comforting to listen to and learn. Ironically though, real life is not linear. Conflicting plotlines is actually closer to the truth of reality.

Mythic stories

When we think of myths and legends, we mainly think of tales that have been elaborated and expanded over a long period of time.

Many of them have their roots in real characters and events in long distant times, but with retelling and elaboration they have been built up into great ‘ripping yarns’ – or at least they seem so by current cynical standards.

In today’s world if we approach myth as fact, it could clearly be considered ridiculous. However to approach myth purely as fact, is to miss the point .

Similarly, to view your life as ‘nothing but the facts’ is to miss an opportunity for a wonderful adventure, an encounter with the unknown of the universe and the ongoing dilemmas of human drama. However, if we approach life and myth in the mythic frame of reference, then we take the ‘hero’s journey of life; we experience life as wondrous and can see the mystical in the ordinary.

The strength and power of myth is not as fact , but as metaphor , and it is in this way that the mythic stories speak to us.

Stories as Metaphor

Stories are a complex, multilevel form of metaphor and because of that they engage and hold a listener’s attention better than a string of disconnected facts.

Stories are more easily remembered than facts.

An important part of the power of story is that it’s empowering for a listener to make a creative leap and connect the story-metaphor to the story of his or her own life. Recognising and creatively grasping an analogy is a way of personally taking on or embodying information – as experience. So the story becomes almost real-life.

Choosing stories and styles to tell

Sometimes it is in the choosing of just the right story to make a point that the connective power of story is manifested.

Wisdom tales such as Japanese Zen stories, Middle Eastern Sufi tales, Greek Aesop’s fables, Chinese Taoist parables and Indian tales have long been culturally used as teaching tools and are great sources for metaphorical tales.

Personal experiential stories can be useful when they rise to the level of metaphor and go beyond the experience of a single person; instead connecting to the experience of many.

In today’s world, as well as choosing the right story, it is the artfulness of the storyteller (the creator) and/or the medium used they choose, as well as the appropriate story that supports the communication needs of a given situation. Those needs may be to just tell, or it could be to sell.

One of the most empowering advantages of using stories to communicate is that over time, a tale can take root like a seed, and blossom into new awareness and understanding. Many myths and stories were traditionally of an oral tradition, and therefore as a series of images they seem to somehow enter the listener, incubate and later emerge as an insight or feeling. This is perhaps why they hold such power over us, as they become our own story .

Why is story so powerful?

Rabbi Jacob Kranz, the Maggid of Dubno, an 18 th century Eastern European rabbi, was once asked, “Why are stories so powerful? Why do they have an impact and penetrate to the heart of every matter?” His legendary reply was to tell the following story:

NAKED TRUTH and PARABLE

Naked truth walked down the street one day. people turned their eyes away., parable arrived, draped in decoration. people greeted parable with celebration., naked truth sat alone, sad and unattired, “why are you so miserable” parable inquired., naked truth replied, “i’m not welcome anymore. no one wants to see me. they chase me from their door.”, “it is hard to look at naked truth,” parable explained. “let me dress you up a bit. your welcome will be gained.”, parable dressed naked truth in story’s fine attire, with metaphor, poignant prose, and plots to inspire., with laughter and tears and adventure to unveil, together they went forth to spin a tale., people opened their doors and served them their best., naked truth dressed in story was a welcome guest..

The stories we hear throughout our lives help to shape the way we perceive both our personal world and the complex context in which we live.

It is ironic that seemingly solid stories shift and reconfigure as we remember, retell, and reinterpret our memories over time.

It is through this that we attempt to make sense of our lives.

Photo via stock.xchng user djayo

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Understanding Tales, Fables, Myths, Legends and Folklore Stories

By the end of this page, you will be an expert on folklore stories! Here are the eight topics we will discuss:

1. Folklore Stories and the Oral Tradition 2. How to Classify the Story of George Washington and the Cherry Tree 3. Folklore Stories: Qualities and Characteristics of the Genre 4. Checklists and Cheat Sheets: Qualities and Characteristics of Genre 5. Genre Paths or Genre Breadcrumb Trails 6. Five Genres of Folklore Stories 7. Sixteen Types of Folklore Stories Defined 8. Building on Folklore Stories: Modern Fables, Fairy Tales, Legends, and Myths

Folklore Stories and the Oral Tradition

Human beings have told stories since the beginning. By the time writing was invented, certain types of stories were common. Let’s call the types of stories that originated in word-of-mouth form Folklore Stories . This entire page is devoted to understanding and defining various types of folklore stories. But first, let’s build a foundation for understanding these important stories by understanding a few terms that help define this category of stories:

1. Oral Tradition: “Oral tradition, or oral lore, is a form of human communication wherein knowledge, art, ideas and cultural material is received, preserved and transmitted orally from one generation to another.” – Wikipedia 2. Folklore: 1) “the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth”; 2) “a body of popular myth and beliefs relating to a particular place, activity, or group of people.” – Google 3. Lore: “a body of traditions and knowledge on a subject or held by a particular group, typically passed from person to person by word of mouth.” – Google 4. Mythology : “a collection of myths, especially one belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition.” – Google

Although the spoken word plays a large part in most of these folklore stories, some folklore stories originate in literature and most become famous through literature. Here’s why folklore stories are so important and relevant even today:

8 Most of these stories are important and relevant because they relate to one or more of these topics: 1) History, 2) Culture, 3) Religion

8 The purpose of the stories is often twofold: 1) Entertain, 2) Teach

How to Classify the Story of George Washington and the Cherry Tree

Have you ever heard the story about George Washington and the cherry tree? Well, apparently, a young George Washington received a hatchet as a present and went outside and cut down his father’s cherry tree. Later, when his father angrily confronted the future president, George replied, “Father, I cannot tell a lie. I cut down the cherry tree.” George’s father did not respond with anger, but instead with joy, “My, what an honest young man you are!”

How would you classify that story? MountVernon.org (an authoritative George Washington website) classifies the story this way: “The cherry tree myth is the most well-known and longest enduring legend about George Washington.”

So, which is it? A myth or a legend ? When MountVernon says that the cherry tree story is a myth, they simply mean that the story is not true. Unfortunately, over time, the term myth has come to represent two types of stories:

1) A story with sacred, religious, or spiritual implications, overtones, or explanations.

2) A story that is presented as true and that some people believe is true, but that is not true. In short, the story is a lie.

Since the story of George Washington is not true, it is a myth according to the second definition. Now, is it a legend? Here is how Google dictionary defines legend: “a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated.” Yes, the story of George Washington and the cherry tree is a legend. Having said that, it’s not what I would typically think of as being a legend. In fact, I would probably call it a historical fable, a morality tale, or simply a story that is not true.

If the legend of George Washington and the cherry tree were created by rumor and word of mouth, then I would be more tempted to call it a legend. But it wasn’t. The story was written by Mason Locke Weems and published in a book in 1806. Unlike George Washington, Weems told a lie. After that, the story caught on and became so-called legend.

Folklore Stories: Qualities and Characteristics of the Genre

Genre means shares similar qualities and characteristics . NARRATIVE is a genre, and STORY is a genre of narrative. All narrative stories share the characteristic of “telling what happened.” Of course, we also have many different genres of narrative story. We have mystery, drama, comedy, western—and many more. Each genre of story shares similar characteristics with other stories in the same genre.

Sometimes genre is a simple thing. When we read one of Aesop’s Fables, it’s easy for most people to classify it as a fable. It’s easy because Aesop’s Fables contain the defining qualities and characteristics of fables. Likewise, when we read The Brothers Grimm original Little Snow White (1812), it’s easy to see that it’s a fairy tale.

George Washington and the cherry tree story is a bit more difficult. Although the story meets the dictionary definition of a legend, it doesn’t meet many of the commonly accepted characteristics and qualities that we associate with the genre of legend. It’s not a legend like King Arthur, Robin Hood, or the Trojan War. It’s not a legend like many of the stories that came out the Wild West. It’s nothing like these legends. As I mentioned before, I would probably call it a historical fable. What’s a historical fable? Well, it historical and it’s a fable.

Many definitions of fables state that fables by definition have animal characters. In other words, if the story doesn’t have animal characters, then it can’t be a fable. However, Google’s dictionary definition of a fable is this: “Fable: a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.” So the truth is that although fables typically have animals , they don’t have them by definition . And this is even truer with “modern fables.” People classify stories as fables because it helps other people see the structure and characteristics of the story more clearly. But this does not mean that the story has every single characteristic and quality of a fable. Genre is a heuristic—that is, it’s a shortcut for understanding.

Checklists and Cheat Sheets: Qualities and Characteristics of Genre

Genre is a neglected topic. And it’s also one of the most interesting, revealing, and informative topics. When you squeeze an orange, what comes out? Orange juice. Why? Because that’s what’s inside. That’s how genre is. To understand a genre is to understand what’s inside the genre—the qualities and the characteristics of the genre, along with the skills, strategies, and techniques required to create the genre. Many famous writers today specialize in one genre because specialized knowledge of a genre is extremely important for creating successful stories.

Whether one is writing a history report, an argument on global warming, a newspaper article, or a young-adult novel, the genre is an outline in advance. The genre mandates many of the choices, techniques, and strategies that the writer will choose and use. Students ask, “Why do I have to do that?” Answer: “Because it’s the genre. Forget that colloquial story you just read. This is an important writing assessment.” By the way, genre includes audience and purpose, but that’s beyond what we will discuss here.

What makes a thriller a thriller instead of an action story or suspense story? It’s all explained by genre. Genre explains the necessary qualities and characteristics that mandate the choices, techniques, and strategies that the writer must use to create the effect.

Here are four genre checklists and cheat sheets to get you thinking about the characteristics and qualities of genre:

1. Checklist and Cheat Sheet for Narrative Tales, Folklore, Myths, Legends, and Fables 2. Narrative Story, Narrative Essay, and Narrative Non-Fiction Checklist and Cheat Sheet 3. Descriptive Writing Checklist and Cheat Sheet 4. Persuasive Writing, Opinion Writing, and Argument Writing Checklist and Cheat Sheet

Genre Paths or Genre Breadcrumb Trails

I like to place things in context for my students, and these Genre Paths or Genre Breadcrumb Trails do just that—quickly and easily. I also use Genre Trees and Levels, but that’s for another day. As you can see, I don’t classify myths and legends as folktales or tales. For me, the term tales is more appropriate for shorter, lighter fare. I’m flexible on this depending on the story and the situation, and my goal here is not to convince anyone that this is the correct way to view things. My point here is that this is how we discuss and analyze stories and come to understand genre classification systems.

1. Narrative Q Story Q Folklore Q Folktale Q Fairy Tale 2. Narrative Q Story Q Folklore Q Folktale Q Tall Tale 3. Narrative Q Story Q Folklore Q Folktale Q Basic Folktale 4. Narrative Q Story Q Folklore Q Folktale Q Fable 5. Narrative Q Story Q Folklore Q Myth 6. Narrative Q Story Q Folklore Q Legend

In a sense, genres and genre classification systems provide a blueprint or outline for a piece of writing in advance. Of course, it’s easy to create a perfect classification system. The difficult part is making all those square pegs fit into perfectly round holes, which is why theorists start making exceptions and giving long-winded explanations. With almost everything in language, there is no perfect classification system. Language is created by people trying to communicate in effective, innovative, and interesting ways. It takes just one innovator who creates a masterpiece to ruin all those perfect classification systems. And we have had many of those throughout history.

In the real world, people combine genres, reinvent genres, build on genres, and transcend genres. Genre is not static.

Five Genres of Folklore Stories

Later, we will define 16 different genres of folklore stories. But here, I put forth five types of folklore story. Each is based on a specific purpose. As you can see, I also list all of the similar types of folklore stories that have a similar purpose. So in a sense, the purpose is the genre. By the way, we don’t need to learn anything about #5 False Stories, but it’s a helpful term.

Folklore Genre	Genres of the Genre / Similar Purpose	Purpose
1. Tales	1) Folktales, 2) Tall Tales, 3) Fairy Tales, 4) Hero Tales, 5) Animal Tales, 6) Ballads	Entertain then Teach.
2. Fables	1) Parables, 2) Allegories	Teach then Entertain.
3. Myths	1) Epics, 2) Sagas	Deals with beliefs, values, and explanations of existence.
4. Legends	1) Epics, 2) Sagas	Deals with history, geologic, or natural phenomena, e.g., what lives in the cave on the side of the mountain; people who lived or could have lived.
5. False Stories	1) Rumors, 2) Urban Legends, 3) Old Wives’ Tales, 4) Conspiracy Theories, 5) Myths – popular informal term.	People do their best to explain things or simply lie, and others believe them because they are excellent stories that seem to make sense. Sometimes people take a story literally when the teller was just telling a good story.

Sixteen Types of Folklore Stories Defined

The following sixteen definitions are not creative or inspired definitions. In fact, they are primarily objective, concrete dictionary definitions ( 1 = Google/Oxford Dictionary; 2 = Wikipedia). Understanding a dictionary definition is an excellent beginning for understanding the genre. The next step is to learn the commonly accepted characteristics and qualities of the genre and the techniques and strategies used in the genre.

1. Tale: “a fictitious or true narrative or story, especially one that is imaginatively recounted.” (1) 2. Folk Tale: “a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth.” (1) 3. Tall Tale: “A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements, related as if it were true and factual.” (2) 4. Fairy Tales: “1) a children’s story about magical and imaginary beings and lands; 2) denoting something regarded as resembling a fairy story in being magical, idealized, or extremely happy.” (1) 5. Hero Tale: An epic tale about a hero accomplishing amazing feats, possibly on an amazing journey. 6. Animal Tale: “An animal tale or beast fable generally consists of a short story or poem in which animals talk. It is a traditional form of allegorical writing.” (2) 7. Fable: “a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.” (1) 8. Parable: “a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.” (1) 9. Allegory: “a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.” (1) 10. Ballad: “a poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas. Traditional ballads are typically of unknown authorship, having been passed on orally from one generation to the next as part of the folk culture.” (1) 11. Myth: “a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.” (1) 12. Legend: “a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated.” (1) 13. Epic: “a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation.” (1) 14. Epic Tale: “An epic tale is a literary work about a hero, amazing adventures or an otherwise intense or amazing story. Often, an epic tale involves a hero on an adventurous quest to rescue another main character, to save the world in some manner, or to defend his community against a rival or enemy.” – Neil Kokemuller – SeattlePI 15. Saga: “a long story of heroic achievement, especially a medieval prose narrative in Old Norse or Old Icelandic.” (1) 16. False Stories: Stories that are presented as true or are rumored to be true, but they aren’t true. (1)

Building on Folklore Stories: Modern Fables, Fairy Tales, Legends, and Myths

Rigid categories are a hindrance to understanding. The reality of writing and literary analysis is that we take many rigid categories and use them to help us understand a story. This is why we so often hear analysis like this: “It’s a post-modern coming-of-age fable.” To understand that statement, one must understand three genres: 1) post-modern, 2) coming-of-age stories, and 3) fables.

Point being: The old stories are important stories, and they contribute to the important stories of today. Many famous folklore stories have been passed down for centuries or even millennia. These stories are important, fascinating, meaningful stories that communicate something about the human experience. These stories are relevant today for that reason alone, but they are also relevant for additional reasons.

In modern times, we still tell many of these old folklore stories. But equally important, these stories serve as models for our brand new stories. J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is certainly a well-written, impressive work. However, a surprising amount of the mythology is based on world mythology. The magic ring itself is straight out of Norse mythology.

Star Wars is built upon Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, which is a story model based on his study of world mythology. In reality, many incredibly successful movies are properly and commonly classified as fables, fairy tales, legends, and myths. Of course, when these stories are brought into the modern world, people tend to add the word modern to the genre name.

Whether it’s modern or traditional, whether one is reading or writing—a sound understanding of the qualities and characteristics of folklore stories helps one understand most every story.

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Myths: Not just Long Ago

How-To Guides

How To Write A Myth in 16 Steps With Examples

Have you ever wondered how ancient myths and legends were created? Fancied having a go at writing your own tall tale? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we’ll be walking through a simple 16-step process to teach you exactly how to write a myth from start to finish. From deciding on your mythological characters and settings to plotting your story arc and bringing it all to life with feedback and editing – we’ve got you covered. So if you’re ready to unleash your inner Homer or Aesop and try crafting your own mythical masterpiece, read on for a fun, easy-to-follow guide on how to write a myth that would make the ancient storytellers proud!

Types of Myths

Myths vs. legends, examples of famous myths, step 1: think of a theme, step 2: decide on the moral, step 3: incorporate symbolic elements, step 4: idea summary, step 5: character development, step 6: setting development, step 7: define the conflict, step 8: outline the beginning, step 9: plan the resolution, step 10: develop a plot outline, step 11: write the first draft, step 12: choose a title, step 13: edit and revise, step 14: seek feedback, step 15: final edit, step 16: publish and share, how do i write my own myth, what are the 5 elements of a myth, what is an example of a myth, how do myths start.

What is an example of a kids' myth?

What is a Myth?

Myths are influential fictional stories that have been passed down for generations across different cultures. They have had enduring appeal as they often explore timeless themes about human existence – from birth and love to conflict and death. Myths also offer explanations about our world – why the sun rises, how different languages originated, and what happens after death.

While myths are fictional rather than factual accounts, for ancient civilizations they represented a reality grounded in their unique cultural contexts and belief systems. Myths helped shape worldviews, values and customs within these societies. Modern society may classify myths as fantasy , fairytales or legends but their imaginative power and symbolic meaning still resonates.

The fantastical elements in myths like all-powerful gods, mystical quests or monstrous beings capture our imagination. Talking animals and shape-shifting tricksters teach us moral lessons. Heroes overcoming epic trials represent the universal theme of the underdog defeating mighty opponents against the odds. Myths reveal both human flaws and virtues – jealousy and deception but also courage, ambition and redemption.

So myths continue to have significance and value. Their timeless quality means they can be reinterpreted to explore modern challenges – from ethical issues posed by technology to current social dynamics about gender and race. Myths also inspire contemporary pop culture through comic book heroes on quests to computer games built around mythic themes and imagery. Their metaphorical style adds depth to any form of storytelling across genres and mediums.

Myths come in many forms, serving distinct purposes across cultures and eras. Though myths may intertwine multiple elements, some main categories include:

Creation Myths : Explain the origins of the universe, Earth, and humanity. They often involve gods, goddesses, or supernatural beings.
Heroic Myths: Focus on the adventures and exploits of heroic figures. These myths often follow a hero’s journey , involving challenges, trials, and a transformation.
Trickster Myths: Feature characters who are clever, mischievous, and often disrupt the natural order of things. The trickster figure challenges societal norms and brings about change.
Etiological Myths: Explain the origins of customs, traditions, or natural features. These myths provide cultural explanations for certain practices or phenomena.
Cosmogonic Myths: Similar to creation myths, cosmogonic myths address the origin and order of the cosmos, including the relationships between various celestial bodies.
Didactic Myths: Also known as folktales or fables. Convey moral lessons or teachings. These myths often involve characters facing moral dilemmas and making choices that lead to consequences.
Afterlife Myths: Explore beliefs about what happens after death. They may describe different realms, deities, or rituals associated with the afterlife.
Eschatological myths: Focus on endings/destruction. Like flood or rapture myths depicting world catastrophes.
Apocalyptic Myths: Envision the end of the world or a significant transformation of the existing order. They often involve prophecies, divine judgments, or catastrophic events.
Liminal Myths: Focus on transitions or thresholds, such as rites of passage, initiation ceremonies, or rituals marking significant life changes.
Ancestral Myths: Explain the origins of a particular people, tribe, or community. These myths often involve the creation of the first humans or the founding of a civilization.
Deification Myths: Describe how certain individuals or beings become gods or achieve divine status. This may involve heroic deeds, ascension, or divine intervention.

This list covers some of the major types of myths recorded from civilizations worldwide based on their central themes and messages. The great diversity illustrates myth’s enduring capacity to both explain and explore the human condition in creative ways that still influence how we tell stories today across artistic mediums.

Myths and Legends share similarities in being tales passed down over generations that take on symbolic meaning. However, they have some distinct differences:

Origins : Myths trace back to ancient oral storytelling traditions grounded in religion /spirituality. Legends originate from perceived historical events and may incorporate real people or places.
Timeframes : Myths are set in ancient, timeless settings like the beginnings of Earth or humanity. Legends occur in knowable eras of antiquity but details remain unreliable or obscure.
Characters : Myths utilize archetypal non-human characters like all-powerful gods, magical beasts or the forces of nature in human form. Legends may feature heroic human characters accomplishing exaggerated feats.
Believability : Ancient societies often took myths as literal explanations of divine truths. Legends blur fact and fiction but don’t demand faith in the same way religious myths did.
Functions : Myths cemented ideological belief systems and helped impart cultural values. Legends tend to inspire national/community pride in past heroes and events.

In essence, the distinction depends on whether supernatural, sacred narratives of myths give way to more grounded tales of extraordinary mortal exploits in legends.

There’s certainly overlap – legends borrow mythic tropes while myths may incorporate historical elements. But generally, myths emerge from faith and legends from memories of remarkable deeds. Evaluating the context and purpose behind fantastical tales illuminates how they spread and the significance they held.

Mythology has spawned countless captivating tales across ancient cultures that remain influential. Here are a few iconic myths and their significance:

Icarus and Daedalus: In a Greek myth, there’s a skilled builder named Daedalus. He and his son, Icarus, were stuck on an island called Crete. To escape, Daedalus created wings using feathers and wax. He warned Icarus not to fly too high or too low. Excited, Icarus flew too close to the sun. The sun melted the wax on his wings, and he fell into the ocean and drowned. This story teaches us about the dangers of being overly ambitious without thinking. It also represents how humans strive for greatness and creativity.
Thor vs the Midgard Serpent : In a Norse myth, there’s a big battle between Thor, the thunder god, and the enormous serpent called Jörmungandr. This happens before Ragnarök, a big event where the gods and the world are supposed to be destroyed. Thor goes fishing for the serpent using an ox-head as bait. He hooks the massive serpent, but even with his powerful belt and gloves, he can’t beat it before the line breaks, and he gets thrown backwards. This myth shows the constant struggle between opposing forces in the world, and how they balance each other through their fights for control.
Pandora’s Box: In an ancient Greek story, there’s a woman named Pandora. The gods made her very beautiful and charming. She came with a sealed jar, and she was told not to open it. But Pandora couldn’t resist her curiosity and opened the jar. This let out all kinds of troubles like sorrow, sickness, and plague, which then affected people forever. The only thing left inside the jar was hope. This story tells us that even when faced with difficulties, people can still keep going with hope.
The Buddha: In a story from Hindu and Buddhist traditions, there’s a prince named Siddhartha Gautama who later becomes the Buddha, which means the Awakened One. He leaves behind his comfortable life as a prince, including his wife and son, after seeing how much suffering exists in the world. He goes on a spiritual journey for many years, trying extreme ways to find enlightenment. After a simple meal, he sits under a tree and enters deep meditation. During this time, a demon named Mara tries to distract him with desires and fears, but the Buddha remains focused. He reaches a state called nirvana, gaining profound insights. The teachings of Buddhism come from these insights, suggesting that letting go of material desires and fixed ideas can free people from worldly sorrows. This myth shows that humans can transcend difficulties and reach a state of enlightenment.
Hercules (Heracles): From Greek mythology Hercules, the son of Zeus and a mortal woman named Alcmena, faced a series of challenges known as the Twelve Labors as a punishment for a crime committed in a fit of madness. One of these labours was to clean the Augean stables, which housed an immense number of cattle and had not been cleaned for years. It seemed like an impossible task. Hercules, known for his strength, devised a clever plan. He redirected the rivers Alpheus and Peneus to flow through the stables, cleaning them in a single day. Despite his initial disbelief, King Augeas, who owned the stables, refused to honour his agreement to reward Hercules. This myth illustrates Hercules’ wit and problem-solving skills, showcasing that strength alone is not always the solution. It also highlights the theme of justice as Hercules faced an unfair situation and ultimately demonstrated his capabilities through intelligence and resourcefulness.

These represent just snippets of legendary tales full of symbolic details that have endured for millennia. They remind us of myth’s storytelling power – using fantasy and imagination to probe poignant universals that still compel audiences today.

How To Write A Myth in 16 Steps

Myths have charmed readers for millennia thanks to their imaginative worlds and timeless themes. If you want to join the ranks of storytellers like Homer, the Brothers Grimm, and J.R.R Tolkien, follow these 16 simple steps to learn how to write a myth:

Choosing a theme is the foundational step in crafting a myth. It involves selecting a fundamental concept, value, or message that will serve as the core focus of your narrative. Themes can range from love and courage to justice or any other overarching idea. This choice not only provides direction to your tale but also shapes the underlying philosophy that will resonate with your audience. Consider what profound concept you want to explore and what moral or lesson might emerge from it.

You might want to take a look at our collection of myth ideas for some inspiration on possible themes for your own myth.

Here is a list of common themes found in myths:

Courage: Exploring the inner strength needed to face adversity and overcome fears.
Love and Sacrifice: I nvestigating the transformative power of love and the sacrifices one might make for it.
Justice and Redemption: Delving into the pursuit of justice and the possibility of redemption, even in the face of past mistakes.
Wisdom and Knowledge: Uncovering the value of wisdom, knowledge, and the pursuit of understanding.
Fate and Free Will: Examining the interplay between destiny and the choices individuals make, challenging the concept of fate.
Friendship and Loyalty: Exploring the bonds of friendship and loyalty, and the challenges faced in maintaining them.
Nature and Balance: Reflecting on the interconnectedness of nature and the importance of maintaining balance in the world.
Perseverance and Resilience: Illustrating the power of persistence and resilience in the face of trials and tribulations.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Focusing on the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation, exploring the healing power of letting go.
Self-Discovery and Identity: Following characters on a journey of self-discovery, exploring questions of identity and purpose.
Hope and Despair: Investigating the contrast between hope and despair, and the transformative impact of hope in challenging situations.
Duty and Honour: Examining the concepts of duty and honour, and the conflicts that may arise when these principles are tested.

These themes provide a starting point for beginners, offering broad and profound concepts that can be explored in various ways within the structure of a myth. As a beginner, choose a theme that resonates with you and sparks your imagination. Remember, the theme is the soul of your myth, anchoring it with a deeper purpose beyond the surface narrative.

If your theme is “Courage,” your myth might revolve around characters facing daunting challenges and finding inner strength to overcome them. The theme of courage can be expressed through the characters’ actions, decisions, and personal growth throughout the mythic journey.

Once you’ve identified the theme of your myth, the next crucial step is to determine the moral or lesson you want your audience to take away from the narrative. The moral is the guiding principle or truth about living a good life that aligns with your chosen theme. This element gives depth and purpose to your myth, as it imparts meaning beyond the surface storyline.

Here are some key elements to consider in this step:

Alignment with Theme: Ensure that the chosen moral resonates with and complements the theme you’ve selected. It should be a natural extension of the theme, reinforcing the central concept.
Universal Applicability: Aim for a moral that possesses universal appeal, allowing readers to relate to and find personal relevance in the lessons imparted by your myth.
Character Transformation: Consider how the moral will contribute to the transformation of your protagonist. The mythic journey often involves personal growth, and the moral serves as a compass guiding this transformation.

Deciding on the moral is crucial because it gives your myth a purpose beyond entertainment. It elevates the narrative to a realm of meaningful storytelling, allowing readers to connect with the characters and events on a deeper level. The moral provides a guiding light, shaping the overall message you wish to convey and leaving a lasting impact on those who engage with your myth.

Example:

If your theme is “Courage,” your moral might be centred around the idea that true courage is found not in the absence of fear but in the face of it. This moral aligns with the theme and encourages readers to reflect on the nature of courage in their own lives.

Once you’ve established the theme and decided on the moral, the next step involves weaving symbolic elements into your myth. These elements can take various forms, including items, characters, colours, numbers, and more. Symbolism adds depth and layers of meaning to your story, enhancing its richness and reinforcing the themes and messages you wish to convey.

Relevance to Theme and Moral: Ensure that the symbolic elements chosen are relevant to the theme and moral of your myth. They should enhance the narrative rather than feel forced or arbitrary.
Metaphorical Representation: Symbolic elements often carry metaphorical meaning. Consider how they can represent deeper concepts, emotions, or aspects of the human experience.
Consistency and Coherence: Maintain consistency in the use of symbolism throughout your myth. Symbolic elements should contribute to the overall narrative rather than feeling disjointed.
Reader Engagement: Allow room for reader engagement with the symbolism. Some elements may be more clear, while others might be subtle, encouraging readers to interpret and discover meanings on their own.

Incorporating symbolic elements adds layers of meaning to your myth, making it a more immersive and thought-provoking experience for readers. Symbols have the power to evoke emotions, create connections between elements in the story, and reinforce the overarching themes. Well-executed symbolism enhances the myth’s impact, allowing readers to explore deeper levels of interpretation and engage with the narrative on a more profound level.

Example:

For the theme of courage, you might incorporate a symbolic element like a Phoenix feather. The Phoenix, known for its mythical rebirth from its ashes, becomes a symbol of resilience and the ability to rise anew despite challenges. The feather, handed down through generations, represents the legacy of courage within a family or community. As characters face daunting trials, the presence of the Phoenix feather serves as a reminder that courage isn’t the absence of fear but the determination to confront and overcome it, emerging stronger on the other side. In this way, the Phoenix feather becomes a metaphorical representation of the theme, adding layers of meaning to the narrative and reinforcing the message about the nature of courage.

After establishing the theme, deciding on the moral, and incorporating symbolic elements, it’s time to create a concise idea summary for your myth. This summary serves as a condensed version of your myth, outlining the basic premise, main characters, central conflict, supernatural aspects, and the moral message in a paragraph or two.

Protagonist and Basic Arc: Introduce the main character (or characters) and briefly outline their journey or character arc. What challenges do they face, and how do they evolve throughout the myth?
Main Conflict: Identify the central conflict that drives the narrative forward. Is it a moral dilemma, a battle against dark forces, or a quest for self-discovery?
Supernatural Aspects: If your myth involves supernatural or fantastical elements (common in many myths), provide a glimpse of these aspects. This could include gods, magical creatures, or enchanted objects.
Moral Message: Summarize the moral or lesson that readers should take away from your myth. How does the protagonist’s journey and the resolution contribute to this message?

The idea summary serves as a roadmap for your myth, providing a clear and concise overview of its key elements. It acts as a guide for the subsequent steps, ensuring that your narrative remains focused on its core themes and messages. Additionally, having a well-defined idea summary can be a valuable tool for pitching or sharing your myth with others.

Aria, a young girl from the mystical land of Eldoria, finds an ancient prophecy about a looming darkness that will consume the world. She is chosen by the gods to stop it, armed with a Phoenix feather inherited from her ancestors. Along her perilous quest, she encounters mythical creatures and faces moral dilemmas that test her courage. She learns that courage is not the lack of fear, but the will to act despite it. In the final showdown, she faces the source of the darkness, a monstrous entity that feeds on fear. She musters all her courage and stabs the Phoenix feather into its core willing to sacrifice herself, triggering a massive blast of light and heat. The darkness is burned away, and the land is restored to its natural beauty. She realizes that the Phoenix feather symbolizes courage, a powerful force that can overcome any evil.

Character development is a crucial aspect of crafting a compelling myth. In this step, you’ll outline your characters, delving into their backgrounds, motivations, flaws, and the growth they undergo throughout the mythic journey.

Here are the key components of developing characters:

Protagonist : Introduce your main character—the protagonist—who will navigate the challenges of the myth. What makes them unique? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Backstories : Provide backgrounds for your characters. What events or experiences have shaped them into who they are at the beginning of the myth?
Motivations : Explore the motivations driving your characters. What do they desire, fear, or hope to achieve? Motivations often propel characters forward in the face of adversity.
Flaws : Characters with flaws are relatable and dynamic. What imperfections or internal struggles do your characters grapple with? How do these flaws contribute to their arcs?
Character Arc : Consider how the challenges and trials of the myth will lead to the growth and transformation of your characters. What lessons will they learn, and how will they evolve?
Supporting Characters: You should also consider introducing supporting characters who complement and challenge the protagonist. These characters can provide additional layers to the narrative and contribute to the growth of the protagonist.

Well-developed characters contribute to the emotional appeal of your myth. Readers connect with characters who feel real and undergo meaningful transformations. Character development adds depth, authenticity, and relatability to your narrative, making the myth more engaging and impactful.

Aria is a young and determined girl from Eldoria.
Background: Her background reveals a lineage of courageous ancestors, instilling in her a sense of responsibility.
Weakness: Aria struggles with self-doubt and the fear of not living up to her family’s legacy.
Motivation : Her motivation stems from a deep desire to prove her courage and protect Eldoria from the impending darkness.
Character Arc: As Aria faces mythical creatures and moral dilemmas, her flaws become apparent. She must confront her self-doubt and overcome her fear, learning that courage is not about being fearless but about acting despite fear. Through the challenges, Aria experiences significant character growth. By the end of the myth, she emerges as a resilient and self-assured individual, having discovered the true meaning of courage.
Cyrus, a wise elder and mentor, becomes a pivotal supporting character in Aria’s journey.
Background: With a mysterious past tied to ancient prophecies, Cyrus possesses knowledge crucial to Eldoria’s survival.
Motivation: His motivations are rooted in a deep sense of duty to guide and protect the realm.
Weakness: Despite his wisdom, Cyrus grapples with a past mistake that haunts him, serving as a reminder that even the wise have imperfections.
Character Arc: Throughout the myth, Cyrus serves as both guide and challenge to Aria. He imparts valuable lessons about courage, sacrifice, and the interconnectedness of all things. As Aria faces the trials ahead, Cyrus’s guidance becomes instrumental in her growth. In turn, Aria’s courage inspires Cyrus to confront his own lingering fears.

Setting development is the process of creating and detailing the world in which your myth unfolds. The setting encompasses not only the physical locations but also the cultural, historical, and magical elements that contribute to the overall atmosphere of the narrative.

Here are the key elements for this step:

Primary Setting: Define the primary location or realm where the events of your myth take place. Is it a fantastical land, an ancient city, or a mythical kingdom? Consider the geography, climate, weather patterns , and overall ambience.
Crucial Locations: Identify specific locations within the primary setting that play a key role in the narrative. These could be sacred sites, enchanted forests, mythical caves, or significant landmarks.
Cultural Elements: Explore the cultural aspects of your setting. What beliefs, traditions, and customs shape the characters’ lives? Cultural elements add depth and authenticity to the world you’re creating.
Historical Backstory: Develop a historical backstory for your setting. What events have shaped the world, and how do they influence the characters and conflicts in the present? A rich history can enhance the myth’s sense of depth.
Magical Aspects: If your myth involves magic or supernatural elements, detail how these aspects manifest in the setting. Are there magical creatures, artefacts, or ley lines that influence the characters’ journeys?

Setting development establishes the backdrop against which your characters’ journeys unfold. A well-crafted setting immerses readers in the world of your myth, making it more striking and captivating. Additionally, the setting can influence the characters’ beliefs and actions, contributing to the overall atmosphere and thematic appeal of the narrative.

Eldoria, the mystical land in which our myth unfolds, is a realm steeped in magic and ancient prophecies. The primary setting consists of diverse landscapes, from sprawling enchanted forests to majestic mountain ranges. Eldoria is governed by the principles of balance, with natural forces and magical energies interwoven into the fabric of everyday life. Crucial locations include the Sacred Grove, where prophecies are whispered by ancient trees, and the Luminous Falls, a source of magical energy that sustains the land. The cultural elements of Eldoria centre around a deep reverence for nature and a belief in the interconnectedness of all living things. Eldorians celebrate seasonal festivals that honour the cycles of nature. The historical backstory reveals a time when Eldoria faced a similar threat of darkness, and a legendary hero emerged to restore balance. This hero’s legacy echoes through the ages, influencing the characters’ beliefs and motivations. Magical aspects include mythical creatures like the ethereal Moonlight Stags and the elusive Starlight Foxes, both guardians of ancient secrets.

In Step 7, you will define the central conflict that drives the narrative of your myth. The conflict is the driving force that moves the characters forward, creating tension, drama, and opportunities for growth. This step involves determining what challenges, obstacles, or moral dilemmas your characters will face as they embark on their mythic journey.

Here are the key elements of defining the conflict:

Nature of the Conflict: Clearly state the central conflict that forms the core of your myth. Is it a physical threat, a moral dilemma, an internal struggle, or a combination of these elements? Define what the characters are up against.
Stakes: Outline the stakes involved in the conflict. What is at risk if the characters fail to overcome the challenges they face? Stakes add urgency and significance to the narrative.
Antagonistic Forces: Identify the antagonistic forces that oppose the protagonist. These could be external entities, internal struggles, or even the consequences of their own choices. Antagonistic forces create opposition and obstacles.
Moral Complexity: If your conflict involves moral dilemmas, explore the ethical complexities surrounding the choices your characters must make. This adds depth and nuance to the narrative.

The conflict is the driving force behind your myth, shaping the characters’ journeys and providing a narrative arc. A well-defined conflict creates suspense, engages readers emotionally, and sets the stage for the characters’ growth and transformation. It establishes the challenges that must be overcome, making the myth compelling and resonant.

Self-Doubt: Aria doubts her magical abilities, fearing that she lacks the strength to combat the darkness. This self-doubt hinders her from fully embracing her role as the chosen one.
Moral Dilemmas: Aria encounters a village torn between two factions, each seeking her assistance. The moral dilemma forces her to choose between conflicting values, challenging her understanding of justice.
Fear of Failure: Aria envisions the consequences of failing in her mission, haunted by the idea of Eldoria succumbing to eternal darkness. This fear propels her forward but also tests her resilience.
Corrupted Mythical Creatures: Aria faces a once-gentle unicorn corrupted by the darkness. Overcoming the creature requires both physical combat and a demonstration of empathy to restore its purity.
Monstrous Entity: The monstrous entity, fueled by fear, creates illusions that prey on Aria’s deepest fears. Overcoming this external threat demands Aria to confront her personal demons while battling the monster.
Isolation: Aria finds herself alone in the eerie Whispering Woods, where shadows play tricks on the mind. The isolation intensifies her internal struggles and challenges her ability to trust her instincts.
Environmental Hazards: Eldoria’s magical landscape shifts unpredictably, creating illusions and mirages. Aria must discern reality from illusion, adding an external layer of challenge to her journey.

In Step 8, you will outline the beginning scenes of your myth. This involves crafting the opening moments that introduce readers to the world, characters, and central conflict. The beginning sets the tone for the entire narrative, hooking readers and drawing them into the mythic journey.

Here are the key elements to consider:

Introduction of the Protagonist: Establish the main character, providing essential details about their identity, background, and current situation. Create a connection between the protagonist and the readers.
Introduction of the World: Describe the setting and the mystical elements of the world in which the myth takes place. Transport readers to a realm filled with magic, wonder, and potential challenges.
Foreshadowing: Drop subtle hints or clues about the impending conflict or challenges the protagonist will face. Foreshadowing adds intrigue and anticipation, encouraging readers to delve deeper into the narrative.
Establishing the Normal World: Present the protagonist’s everyday life before the call to adventure. This normal world provides a baseline against which readers can measure the transformative journey that lies ahead.
Introduction of Key Elements: Introduce any key elements, symbols, or objects that will play a significant role in the myth. These elements may include magical artifacts, prophecies, or mythical creatures.

The beginning of the myth serves as the narrative’s foundation, establishing the characters, world, and conflict. A well-crafted beginning captivates readers, prompting them to invest emotionally in the protagonist’s journey. It also sets the stage for the transformation that will unfold as the myth progresses.

The myth begins with Aria, a young girl from Eldoria, going about her daily life in the quaint village of Lumara. The sun-dappled streets and the laughter of children provide a sense of the normal world. Aria is introduced as a relatable character, known for her kindness and curiosity. As Aria practices her magical abilities in a secluded grove, readers witness the first hint of foreshadowing—an ancient prophecy etched into the bark of an ancient tree. The words speak of a looming darkness and a chosen one who will stand against it. Aria, unaware of her destiny, continues her routine. The normal world is disrupted when mysterious shadows start encroaching on Eldoria. Aria witnesses the corruption of once-gentle creatures and feels an unexplained calling. The call to adventure begins as Aria discovers the Phoenix feather, a family heirloom that glows with newfound intensity. This sets the stage for her journey to confront the darkness and fulfil the prophecy.

In Step 9, you will plan the resolution of your myth. This step involves scripting the conclusion of the narrative, determining how the central conflict will be resolved, and outlining the fate of the characters. The resolution should bring closure to the story while imparting the moral lesson or universal truth you want readers to take away.

Here are the key elements of this step:

Climax: Identify the highest point of tension in the story, often referred to as the climax. This is the moment of greatest conflict or confrontation between the protagonist and the antagonist.
Resolution of the Central Conflict: Determine how the central conflict will be resolved. Will the protagonist succeed in overcoming the challenges, or will there be a tragic outcome? The resolution should align with the overarching theme of the myth.
Character Arc Completion: Ensure that the resolution reflects the growth and transformation of the protagonist. Characters should undergo significant changes, learning important lessons or discovering newfound strengths.
Impact on the World: Consider how the resolution will impact the world of the myth. Will there be a restoration of balance, a transformation of the realm, or a lasting change in the characters’ lives?
Moral Message: Clarify the moral or universal truth that the resolution will convey. This is the lesson or insight that readers should take away from the mythic journey.

The resolution is the culmination of the mythic journey, providing a sense of closure and fulfilment. It is the moment where the themes, conflicts, and characters come together to deliver a powerful message. A well-planned resolution leaves a lasting impression on readers and reinforces the moral or universal truth embedded in the myth.

As Aria confronts the monstrous entity fueled by fear in the climactic showdown, the Phoenix feather becomes the key to the resolution. The entity, representing the embodiment of darkness, is relentless in its attempt to consume Aria’s courage. The climax unfolds as Aria, drawing strength from within, stabs the Phoenix feather into the entity’s core killing herself in the process. This courageous act triggers a blinding blast of light and intense heat, burning away the darkness that had threatened to engulf Eldoria. The world is restored to its natural beauty, and the once-corrupted mythical creatures regain their purity. Aria, however, is presumed dead in the aftermath. In a poignant twist, Aria’s soul emerges from the light, having absorbed the darkness into the Phoenix feather. Aria is transformed, now radiating with a brilliant glow like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Aria’s character arc is complete, as she learns that true courage involves self-sacrifice and that even the darkest aspects can be transformed into light. The resolution leaves a lasting impact on Eldoria, symbolizing the triumph of courage over fear. The realm is forever changed, and Aria’s sacrifice becomes a legendary tale told across generations.

In Step 10, you will develop a comprehensive plot outline for your myth. This involves mapping out the narrative structure, key events, and character developments from the beginning to the resolution. The plot outline serves as a roadmap, guiding your writing process and ensuring a coherent and engaging story.

Here are the key elements of outlining the plot:

Hooking Opening: Craft an engaging opening that captures the readers’ attention and introduces the world of your myth. This could involve an intriguing event, a mysterious prophecy, or the introduction of a compelling character.
Rising Action: Outline the series of events that build tension and propel the story forward. This includes challenges, conflicts, and discoveries that the protagonist faces on their journey.
Climax: Identify the highest point of tension in the story, where the central conflict reaches its peak. The climax is a pivotal moment that often involves a confrontation between the protagonist and antagonist.
Falling Action: Detail the events that follow the climax, showing the aftermath of the central conflict. This phase may include resolutions to secondary conflicts and the beginning of the resolution.
Resolution: Script the conclusion of the narrative, bringing closure to the central conflict and showcasing the transformation of the characters and the world. The resolution should align with the overarching theme and moral message.

Developing a plot outline provides a structured framework for your myth, ensuring a cohesive and engaging narrative. It helps you visualize the entire story, identify key beats, and maintain a sense of direction throughout the writing process. A well-crafted plot outline serves as a valuable tool for both planning and executing a compelling mythic journey.

Aria discovers an ancient prophecy foretelling a darkness threatening Eldoria.
Introduction of Aria’s normal world in Lumara, a village filled with magical beings.
Aria finds the Phoenix feather, setting her on the path of the chosen one.
Encounters corrupted mythical creatures and faces moral dilemmas.
Discovers the nature of the darkness and her role in stopping it.
Confrontation with the monstrous entity fueled by fear.
Aria’s self-sacrifice with the Phoenix feather to burn away the darkness.
Eldoria transforms as the darkness recedes.
Reveal of Aria’s presumed death and the impact on the realm.
Aria’s soul emerges, transformed into a radiant figure
Symbolic restoration of Eldoria’s purity and balance.
The Phoenix feather becomes a beacon of courage and hope.

In Step 11, you embark on the actual writing process, crafting the first draft of your myth. This step involves translating your plot outline, character developments, and key themes into the myth. The primary goal is to get the narrative flow down on paper without obsessing over perfection.

Here are some elements to consider during this step:

Follow the Plot Outline: Refer to the plot outline you developed in Step 10 as a guide. While writing, allow for creative detours if they enhance the narrative, but ensure that the core structure remains intact.
Establish the Tone: Set the tone of your myth through your writing style. Consider the atmosphere you want to create—whether it’s mysterious, adventurous, or poignant—and infuse your story with appropriate language and imagery.
Character Voices: Give each character a distinct voice and personality. Their dialogue, actions, and internal thoughts should align with their individual traits and arcs.
Show, Don’t Tell : Use descriptive language to evoke vivid imagery and engage readers’ senses. Show character emotions, the magic of the world, and the impact of key events rather than simply stating them.
Build Atmosphere: Create a rich and immersive atmosphere that draws readers into the mythical realm. Pay attention to the details of settings, sounds, and even the cultural nuances that contribute to the world-building.
Maintain Consistency: Ensure consistency in character traits, world-building details, and the overall tone of the myth. This consistency enhances the believability of the fictional world.
Embrace Creativity: Allow your imagination to flourish. Don’t be afraid to explore new ideas or unexpected twists that may enhance the narrative. The first draft is an opportunity to discover the full potential of your myth.
Focus on Narrative Flow: Prioritize the narrative flow over perfection. The goal is to convey the essence of the story, and you’ll have opportunities for refinement in later editing stages.

Writing the first draft is a crucial step in bringing your myth to life. It allows you to explore the narrative in its raw form, discovering variations, character depths, and unexpected turns. The first draft is a creative space where you can experiment, refine your voice, and build the foundation for subsequent editing and polishing stages. It’s an exciting phase that captures the essence of your mythic journey.

Dawn’s rosy fingers stretched across the clear morning sky as Aria awoke, brimming with excitement for the Solstice Fair. She leaned out the window, drinking in the crisp air as the village of Lumara began to stir. Golden light spilled over the cobblestone streets below while the mouth-watering aroma of sweet cakes and pies drifted from the bustling bakery next door. After washing and dressing hurriedly, Aria bounced downstairs where her mother was brewing hot honey-mint tea. She wolfed down a still-warm spice bun, listening with half an ear as her mother fussed over the handwoven shawls they would sell at their fabric stall. The thrill of the annual fair left no room in Aria’s 12-year-old mind to focus on such mundane matters though. The whole village seemed infected by the frenetic energy as Aria skippered down the main thoroughfare. Everywhere colorful banners and Lantern flowers garlanded the buildings in preparation for the legendary nights of feasting ahead. Weaving through the crowds, Aria felt as if the very air tingled with festive magic. Her steps slowed as she passed the looming stone wall shrouded in emerald ivy that marked the edge of the Twilight Grove which held far greater enchantment for Aria than any Solstice Fair. The wall enclosed a forest clearing that called to Aria in a way she had never been able to explain…

Choosing a title is a crucial step in the myth-writing process. The title serves as the first impression and a guiding beacon for readers, encapsulating the essence of your myth. It should be graphic, intriguing, and reflective of the themes or central elements of the story.

Here are some key elements to consider during this step:

Reflect the Essence: The title should capture the core theme, message, or unique elements of your myth. It should give readers a glimpse into what makes your story special.
Evoke Emotion or Curiosity: A compelling title evokes emotion or piques curiosity. It should make potential readers want to explore the mythical world you’ve crafted.
Avoid Spoilers: While the title should provide insight, avoid giving away major plot twists or spoilers. Maintain an element of mystery to engage readers.
Consider Symbolism: If there are symbolic elements, key objects, or motifs in your myth, consider incorporating them into the title. This adds depth and intrigue.
Clarity and Simplicity: Ensure that the title is clear and not overly complex. Simplicity can be powerful, making it easier for readers to remember and relate to.
Check for Availability: Before finalizing the title, check for its availability. Ensure that it’s not already in extensive use by other works to avoid confusion.

Choosing a title is important because it serves as a gateway for readers to enter your mythical world. A well-crafted title not only attracts attention but also sets the tone for the narrative. It becomes a concise representation of the myth’s identity, making it memorable and inviting. The title is the first step in creating a connection between your story and its audience, drawing them into the enchanting realm you’ve created.

Embers of the Eternal Phoenix

The title emphasizes the enduring nature of the Phoenix, suggesting a timeless quality to the myth. The use of “Embers” hints at both the fiery aspect and the remnants of ancient magic. “Embers” also evokes a sense of warmth and sparks curiosity about the Phoenix’s eternal flame, inviting readers to explore the myth’s mystical journey. The title maintains a level of intrigue without revealing specific plot details, leaving room for discovery within the narrative. It is also clear and concise, making it easy to remember while conveying the myth’s focus on the eternal aspect of the Phoenix.

Editing and revising are integral steps in refining your myth, enhancing its overall quality, and ensuring that it resonates effectively with your audience. This step involves a thorough examination of the narrative, language, character development, and overall coherence.

Here are the key elements of editing and revising:

Language Refinement: Scrutinize the language used in your myth. Look for opportunities to elevate descriptions, choose graphic words, and create a more immersive reading experience. Ensure clarity and coherence in your sentences.
Tighten Pacing: Evaluate the pacing of your myth. Ensure that the narrative flows smoothly, building tension where needed and allowing moments of reflection or revelation. Trim unnecessary details or scenes that may slow down the pace.
Character Motivations and Development: Revisit your characters. Ensure that their motivations are clear, their actions align with their personalities, and their development arcs are compelling. Characters should feel authentic and contribute meaningfully to the story.
Emotional Beats: Enhance emotional beats within the story. Whether it’s moments of triumph, tragedy, or self-discovery, make sure these emotional points resonate with readers. Readers should feel connected to the characters and invested in their journeys.
World-Building Consistency: Check for consistency in your world-building. Ensure that the rules of the mythical world are adhered to and that details about locations, magical elements, and cultural elements remain coherent.
Address Plot Gaps: Identify any plot gaps or inconsistencies. Make sure that the sequence of events is logical, and that resolutions align with the established conflicts. Fill in any gaps in the narrative that may leave readers confused.
Balance Descriptive and Action Scenes: Strike a balance between descriptive scenes that establish the atmosphere and action scenes that drive the plot forward. Too much description without progression can lead to pacing issues.
Check for Redundancy: Eliminate redundant or repetitive elements. Ensure that each scene, character trait, or piece of information contributes meaningfully to the overall narrative.
Consistent Tone: Maintain a consistent tone throughout your myth. Ensure that the mood and atmosphere align with the themes you want to convey. Consistency enhances the immersive experience for readers.
Grammar and Syntax: Pay attention to grammar, syntax, and punctuation. Correct any errors to ensure a polished and professional presentation of your myth.

Editing and revising are crucial steps that transform your initial draft into a polished and compelling myth. This process allows you to refine the language, tighten the narrative, and address any inconsistencies or weaknesses in the storytelling. Effective editing ensures that your myth engages readers, conveys its themes effectively, and leaves a lasting impression. It is an opportunity to elevate your work to its fullest potential before sharing it with a wider audience.

Original Sentence: “Aria, feeling the Phoenix feather pulse, bravely uttered words she didn’t know she had.”
Revised Sentence: “Feeling the pulsating warmth of the Phoenix feather, Aria courageously spoke words she never knew resided within her.”

Seeking feedback is a crucial phase in the myth-writing process. It involves sharing your work with others, gathering diverse perspectives, and gaining insights that can help improve and refine your narrative. Constructive feedback provides valuable guidance for enhancing your myth before its finalization.

Here are some elements to consider in this step

Selecting Trusted Readers: Choose individuals whose opinions you value and who can provide constructive criticism. This could include fellow writers, beta readers, or individuals with an interest in mythology and storytelling.
Ask Specific Questions: When sharing your myth, provide specific questions or areas you would like feedback on. This helps readers focus their feedback and ensures you receive insights into the aspects that matter most to you.
Remaining Open-Minded: Approach feedback with an open mind. Be open to various perspectives and consider how different suggestions align with your vision for the myth. Remember that feedback is a tool for improvement, not a directive for rewriting.
Balancing Positive and Constructive Feedback: Acknowledge both positive aspects and areas that need improvement. Positive feedback highlights strengths, while constructive criticism points to areas for refinement. A balanced perspective helps you build on what works well while addressing weaknesses.
Multiple Rounds of Feedback: Consider gathering feedback in multiple rounds. Initial feedback can focus on broad aspects like plot and character development, while subsequent rounds can delve into finer details such as language and pacing.
Implementing Changes Thoughtfully: After receiving feedback, take time to reflect on the suggestions. Decide which recommendations align with your creative vision and make changes thoughtfully. Not all feedback needs to be incorporated, and retaining your unique voice is crucial.

Feedback is a vital tool for refining your myth and ensuring it resonates with your intended audience. Other perspectives can highlight blind spots, offer fresh insights, and identify areas that might need clarification or expansion. Constructive feedback is a collaborative process that contributes to the overall quality of your myth, making it a more compelling and engaging narrative. Embracing feedback is an essential aspect of growth as a writer and contributes to the success of your myth when shared with a broader audience.

When sharing your myth with a trusted reader, you might ask specific questions such as the following:

Did the beginning of the story grab your attention? Why or why not?
What part of the story did you find the most exciting or interesting?
Did you feel like you got to know the characters well? Who was your favourite, and why?
Were there any characters whose actions or feelings you didn’t understand?
Did the story move at a good pace, or were there parts that felt too slow or too fast?
What was your favourite part of the story?
Did the central conflict drive the tension effectively, and was it resolved satisfactorily?
Were there any parts of the story where you felt confused or wanted to know more?
Could you picture the magical world in your mind? Were there things you found confusing?
Did you feel like you understood how the magic worked in the story?
Did the language used in the myth enhance the storytelling, or were there areas where it could be improved?
Were the descriptions of settings, characters, and magical elements detailed enough?
Did you feel emotionally connected to the characters and their journeys? Were there specific moments that stood out emotionally?
What do you think the story was trying to teach or tell you?
Were the symbolic elements effectively woven into the narrative, or were they confusing?
Were there unexpected twists or surprises that you enjoyed?
Did you find any parts of the plot predictable, and if so, did it impact your enjoyment of the story?
What did you enjoy most about the myth?
Is there anything you think could be improved or expanded upon?

The Final Edit is the penultimate step in the process of crafting your myth. During this phase, you focus on thorough polishing, ensuring that your narrative is finely tuned, error-free, and ready to captivate your audience. The Final Edit involves both a macro and micro-level examination of your myth, addressing broader structural elements as well as minute details.

Here are the key elements to consider during this step:

Flow and Pacing: Ensure the overall flow of your myth is smooth and engaging. Check that each scene transitions seamlessly to the next, maintaining a cohesive narrative rhythm.
Consistency: Verify that your story maintains consistency in character traits, world-building rules, and any established magical or mythic elements.
Word Choice: Carefully choose words that enhance the mood, tone, and imagery of your myth. Replace any repetitive or weak language with more vibrant and graphic alternatives.
Sentence Structure: Vary sentence lengths and structures to maintain reader interest. Ensure clarity and avoid overly complex or complicated sentences.
Dialogue : Review and refine character dialogues, ensuring they align with each character’s personality and contribute to the plot. Dialogue should feel natural and authentic.
Character Consistency: Double-check that characters’ actions, motivations, and growth align with their established traits and arcs.
Visual Imagery: Enhance descriptive elements to vividly paint scenes and characters in the reader’s mind. Engage the senses through rich, immersive details.
Show, Don’t Tell: Where possible, use descriptive language to “show” the reader what’s happening, rather than simply “telling” them.
Emotional Connection: Amplify emotional moments by fine-tuning language and expressions. Ensure that readers can connect with the characters on an emotional level.
Pacing of Emotional Beats: Confirm that emotional peaks and valleys are well-paced, allowing readers to experience a range of feelings throughout the myth.
Spelling and Grammar : Conduct a meticulous review for spelling and grammatical errors. Consider using grammar-checking tools, but also manually inspect the text for issues that automated tools might miss.
Consistent Style: Ensure consistency in writing style, whether it’s formal, casual, or a blend of both.
Clarity: Verify that the narrative is clear and easily comprehensible. Address any areas where confusion might arise.
Readability for the Intended Audience: Consider the age group or demographic your myth targets and adjust language and complexity accordingly.
Consistent Theme Weaving: Confirm that the chosen theme is consistently woven throughout the narrative. Every aspect of the myth should contribute to reinforcing the central theme.
Author’s Vision: Evaluate whether the final draft aligns with your initial vision for the myth. Ensure that your unique voice and storytelling style shine through.
Reader’s Experience: Consider how the myth will be perceived by readers. Aim to create an immersive and satisfying experience.

The Final Edit is crucial for presenting a polished and professional myth to your audience. It elevates the overall quality of your storytelling, providing readers with a seamless and enjoyable reading experience. This step is the last opportunity to catch any lingering issues and ensure your myth is ready for publication. The Final Edit reflects your commitment to delivering a well-crafted and thoughtful narrative to your audience.

Sunlight crept over the forested peaks, casting its golden glow over the sleepy village of Lumara. Aria stirred slowly from a night filled with vivid dreams of soaring over emerald treetops. As she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, the scent of baking bread and sweet honey-mint tea beckoned from the kitchen below. After changing out of her nightclothes, Aria drifted downstairs where dawn’s light streamed through the open windows. Her mother, Rhea, was stoking the brick oven’s dying embers while a kettle whistled on the stove. “Good morning, my little owl,” said Rhea. “Ready for some cinnamon spice buns?” Aria seated herself at the hand-carved oak table as Rhea placed a hot mug of fragrant tea and two gooey pastries before her. Famished after her nighttime adventures in the dreaming world, Aria wasted no time devouring her treat. As she licked sticky cinnamon from her fingers, thoughts turned to the annual Solstice Fair which would flood Lumara with visitors and magic unlike any other day. “This year the fair will be more wondrous than ever before,” said Rhea, interrupting Aria’s delicious daydreams. There was joy but also solemnity in her mother’s voice which puzzled Aria. But before she could question it, a knock sounded at the front door…

Step 16 is the completion of your journey as a myth creator — it’s the moment you share your crafted tale with the world. This step involves taking the necessary actions to publish your myth, making it accessible to your intended audience. Here’s a breakdown of the key components within this step:

Here are the elements to consider:

Choose Your Publishing Platform: Decide where and how you want to publish your myth. Options include traditional publishing through literary agents and publishers, or self-publishing through online platforms like Amazon Kindle or other e-book distributors. If you prefer a physical copy, consider print-on-demand services.
Formatting and Presentation: Ensure your myth is formatted appropriately for the chosen publishing platform. Pay attention to font styles, page layouts, and any illustrations or images you plan to include. A polished and professional presentation enhances the reader’s experience.
Cover Design: Create an eye-catching and relevant cover design. The cover is often the first thing potential readers notice, so it should reflect the essence of your myth and entice them to explore further. If you’re not artistically inclined, consider hiring a professional cover designer.
Metadata and Descriptions: Craft compelling metadata and descriptions for your myth. This includes a concise and engaging book description, relevant keywords, and categories. This information is crucial for attracting the right audience and improving the discoverability of your myth.
Distribution Channels: Decide whether you want to make your myth available exclusively on a single platform or distribute it widely across multiple channels. Each distribution choice has its advantages and considerations, so weigh them based on your goals.
Marketing and Promotion: Develop a marketing strategy to promote your myth. Utilize social media, author websites, book blogs, and other platforms to build anticipation and reach potential readers. Consider offering promotional discounts or free giveaways to generate initial interest.
Author Platform: If you haven’t already, establish an author platform. This could be a personal website, social media profiles, or an author page on platforms like Goodreads. An author platform helps you connect with readers and build a community around your work.
Engage with Readers: Actively engage with readers who discover and read your myth. Respond to reviews, participate in discussions, and consider organizing virtual or local events. Building a connection with your audience can foster a loyal readership.
Feedback and Iteration: Remain open to feedback from readers. Use constructive criticism to improve your future works and consider releasing updated editions of your myth based on valuable insights.
Legal Considerations: Be aware of any legal considerations related to publishing, especially if you choose to use traditional publishing contracts or self-publishing platforms. Understand copyright, licensing, and any contractual agreements.
Celebrate Your Achievement: Take a moment to celebrate the completion and publication of your myth. Whether it’s a personal accomplishment or the beginning of a larger writing career, acknowledge the effort and creativity you poured into your work.

Publishing and sharing your myth marks the end of your creative endeavour. This step transforms your narrative from a personal project to a piece of art meant to be experienced by others. Sharing your myth with the world allows you to connect with readers, receive feedback, and contribute to the rich tapestry of storytelling. Whether you aim for a wide readership or a niche audience, publishing and sharing are essential steps in the lifecycle of your myth.

Following this straightforward process on how to write a myth will have you conjuring up incredible lands and beloved characters in no time. Soon you’ll be weaving magical narratives that speak to universal truths and capture imaginations for generations to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you want to try your hand at crafting an epic mythic tale, the good news is getting started is straightforward. While myths often deal with grand themes tied to a culture’s cosmology, at their core they relate compelling narratives about universal struggles facing heroes and gods.

The first step is to decide on the core concept or message you want to explore through allegory. Think of timeless ideas surrounding morality, the meaning of life, good vs evil. Themes of love, courage, justice, and temptation are mythic staples.

Next, build your wondrous setting and characters who will bring everything to life. Unleash your creativity when conceiving locations, magical elements, immortal beings and the hero’s adventure. Traditionally myths incorporate fantasy tropes like enchanted weapons, supernatural transformations and talking animals.

Outline the sequence of events from the Call to Adventure trigger that disrupts the known world to the climatic showdown. Follow conventions from famous myth cycles but put your unique spin to surprise audiences. Monitor the pace so stakes escalate as the tale builds to an epic showdown settling conflicts in a satisfying way.

While crafting memorable dialogue and vivid imagery, focus on imparting the moral perspective intended to guide mortals. Let symbolic motifs reinforce your themes of choice. Execute revisions until you have a tight, well-structured myth for the ages! Share printed or online and enjoy as readers lose themselves in this new compelling mini-universe.

Myths across cultures and time periods tend to share certain essential ingredients that capture the imagination. If you want to write a compelling mythic tale, make sure to incorporate these 5 essential elements:

Supernatural Beings: Myths typically feature immortal gods, goddesses, magical creatures or humans with extraordinary abilities as characters. Their supernatural feats provide that sense of awe and wonder.
Universal Themes: Fundamental, timeless concepts like love, courage, temptation, jealousy or the battle of good vs evil form the thematic backbone that gives myths appeal.
Symbolic Elements: Metaphors and motifs like special objects, numbers, colours or seasons litter mythic narratives, representing abstract ideas related to their universal themes.
Moral Lesson: A teaching or worldview on how mortals can live just, meaningful lives tend to be imparted. Myths establish cultural values.
Heroic Journeys: The protagonist tends to embark on an adventurous quest or perilous journey of self-discovery that transforms them, allowing them to conquer whatever threatens their world.

By incorporating all these ingredients, you’ll craft a myth capable of enduring for generations as great iconic stories regularly do. So unleash your imagination and get writing!

One famous mythic tale which contains quintessential ingredients from across cultures is the ancient Greek story of Icarus and Daedalus. It features hubris, suspense, sorrow and a moral warning.

The tale goes that skilled inventor Daedalus fashioned wings made of feathers and wax for himself and his son Icarus to escape imprisonment, warning Icarus not to fly too close to the sun. But filled with exhilaration soaring above the azure sea, Icarus ignored his father’s warning and soared higher towards the sun’s warmth. The heat soon melted the wax binding his wings, and young Icarus plunged into the sea where he drowned.

The myth of Icarus incorporates gods, as the imprisonment was by King Minos to punish Daedalus for helping Minos’ wife give birth to the minotaur. It demonstrates man’s temptation to defy the gods and overreach. Beyond just entertainment, it imparts a moral about respecting limits placed on mortals. And it serves as an allegory for hubris or excessive pride leading to downfall.

With its familial love, suspense, tragedy and ominous warning, the legend of Icarus’ doomed flight remains impactful centuries later. All key traits of an unforgettable myth!

Myths take root in civilizations seeking to make sense of the mysteries of nature, life and death. So myths often originate as imaginative explanations of phenomena like storms, illness or conflict that frighten or confuse early humans lacking science.

Gods representing natural forces like thunder, the moon, fertility or the seas feature in nascent creation myths constructed to bring order through storytelling. Likewise, myths emerge accounting for the genesis of mankind and the cosmos featuring supernatural machinations. pantheons of gods, titans clashing or primordial cosmic eggs hatching all aim to elucidate existence.

Myths also arise from ancestors weaving fantastical histories that provide shared identity. Hence national epics like the Hindu Mahabharata or Anglo-Saxon legend Beowulf offer early tribes and dynasties storied lineage and famous deeds to rally around. Veritable characters gain superhuman qualities over centuries of oral retelling before being penned.

Often myths encode guidelines for living through the actions of deities, spirits, heroes and villains. Moral perspectives thus enter the collective consciousness. By dramatizing consequences for vice and virtues myths solidify proper codes of conduct around hospitality, war, infidelity etc.

So while methods differ, mythology always starts with imagination conjuring worlds that resonate enough to endure across generations. The rest is persistent retelling until myths become a tradition.

What is an example of a kids’ myth?

A delightful myth perfect for children is the story of the race between the tortoise and the hare. It’s a fable similar to Aesop’s animal tales, imparting a lesson in a child-friendly way that’s easy to grasp.

As the title suggests, a humble hard-shelled tortoise and an arrogant speedy hare have a contest to settle who’s faster. When they decide to race to a tree and back, the hare sprints ahead swiftly and then lies down napping certain she has won. But steady and determined, the tortoise passes the sleeping hare close to the tree to win while the hare awakes shocked learning a lesson in humility.

The simple story of the race incorporates fun personified animals children adore. It also has suspense – who will triumph? Children can absorb the moral of resilient perseverance defeating complacency or arrogance. And the visualization of a plodding tortoise improbably overtaking the speedy hare stays etched in memories.

So like the best children’s myths, “The Tortoise and the Hare” wraps the fundamental lesson of not underestimating others within an entertaining tale of a sporting rivalry that upset kids find uproariously satisfying. An enduring cautionary myth passed through generations.

We’ve covered the essential ingredients that go into crafting a memorable myth, from incorporating supernatural elements, symbols and heroic arcs to imparting profound themes or cultural values in imaginative ways. Now over to you aspiring myth-makers!

Whether you create a fantastical origin story for your favourite childhood toy or write a tragic saga extolling the virtues of perseverance like the tortoise fable, embrace your boundless creativity. As this guide on how to write a myth has shown, compelling mythology can emerge from any inspiring spark. Once you have brought your new addition to mythology to life through tireless writing and revision, share your remarkable tales far and wide.

Now, we want to hear from you! Have you embarked on your mythical odyssey, or are you inspired to begin one? Share your thoughts, ideas, or questions in the comments below.

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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Explore Myth and Legend with the Lure of Loch Ness

Take your class on a journey to explore the real and the imagined through these activities related to the legend of Loch Ness.

By Cathy Neushul

Just typing in the words Loch Ness as part of a Google search brought back the feelings I felt when I first heard about this famous legend as a young child. As I scrolled through the search results, I glanced at the photos, recognizing the most famous one featuring an animal that resembles a brontosaurus .

Learning about the Loch Ness legend is a rite of passage. Teachers can take advantage of this tantalizing topic to help their class practice research skills, delve into an analysis of the theories supporting and contradicting such an animal’s existence, and read literature inspired by this legend.

Set Your Class on a Journey of Discovery

Your class will love this task. Ask them to do research on the history of the Loch Ness Monster . A good resource to start with is a PBS website related to the Nova series called The Beast of Loch Ness . Students can read about the history of the legend that has been in circulation for more than 1,500 years. They can also listen to recordings of firsthand accounts from people who claim to have encountered the Loch Ness Monster. In addition, they can learn about the devices, such as sonar, that have been used to try to detect the existence of this animal.

Instead of focusing on one source, learners should look at a variety of websites and search for recent information relating to Loch Ness. After they have compiled their information, allow them share their findings with the class.

Analyze the Data

Once the data has been shared and discussed, continue by providing time for analyzing the information. Each pupil will then choose a side, believer or skeptic, and write a detailed and complete essay describing and supporting their views. This essay could be done in conjunction with a presentation involving pictures, movies, graphs, diagrams and more. Make sure learners use as much information as possible to support their opinion. After completion of their essays, they can present their findings using a PowerPoint, video, or other similar method. They should be graded with a written rubric that describes the elements necessary in a persuasive argument.

Read Myths and Legends

Everyone loves reading myths and legends. In different ways, the same stories are told again and again and again. While not based on Loch Ness, a story about a similar monster written by Ray Bradbury can be a way to discuss this legend.

Recently, I discovered Bradbury’s story “The Fog Horn.” It is the tale of a lonely monster who is looking for love. He leaves the dark recesses, where he has been hiding for centuries, to follow a fog horn. He expects to find an animal like himself. Instead, he finds a lighthouse and meets a tragic end.

This story is a wonderful read. Your class can discuss the symbolism of the story, its meaning, and the link to the monsters of legends. No matter which way you choose to explore this topic, myths and legends provide a way to teach important skills in a motivating manner.

The Legend of Loch Ness

The Scientific Search for the Loch Ness Monster

Delve into the scientific method by analyzing stories like the legend of Loch Ness. Learners discuss the scientific method, complete quizzes, and talk about other types of myths. This would be a great way to explore this topic.

Solving Science Mysteries

Help your class learn how to create a persuasive essay. Learners do research on a myth, such as the Bermuda Triangle, and come up with a speech to convince others of their theories. This is a higher-level thinking activity that your class will love.

The Lore o’ the Irish

The Irish are known for their fascination with myth and legend. Through an exploration of this country’s cultural heritage, your class can explore the importance of these types of stories. They create a timeline to show how historical events and legends are linked.

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24 Persuasive Appeals

Rhetoric, as the previous chapters have discussed, is the way that authors use and manipulate language in order convey a message to an audience. Once we understand the rhetorical situation out of which a text is created, we can look at how all of those contextual elements shape the author’s creation of the text.

Whereas the previous chapters focus primarily on the rhetorical situation, the next few chapters focus on the classical appeals (or proofs), which are ways to classify authors’ intellectual, moral, and emotional approaches to getting the audience to have the reaction that the author hopes for. These appeals allow writers to communicate more or less persuasively with the audience.

Rhetorical appeals include ethos, pathos, logos, and kairos. These are classical Greek terms, dating back to Aristotle, who is traditionally seen as the father of rhetoric. To be rhetorically effective (and thus persuasive), an author must engage the audience in a variety of compelling ways, which involves carefully choosing how to craft his or her argument so that the outcome, audience agreement with the argument or point, is achieved.

As a previous chapters explained, the Rhetorical Situation can be visualized as triangulating relating three main elements: Writer, Subject (or Message), and Audience. Three of the Rhetorical Appeals (logos, pathos, and ethos) can be mapped onto that triangle in the following way:

Logos, pathos, and ethos can be represented as distinct corners of a triangle, but it’s important to emphasize the sameness and interconnectedness of that triangle. Just as the message, audience, and writer all contribute to the final product, the rhetorical appeals are mutually reinforcing and intertwined. In the chapter, “Moving Your Audience: Ethos , Pathos , and Kairos ,” John D. Ramage, et al’s Writing Arguments shows how the following logical proof can be communicated in different ways:

Claim: People should adopt a vegetarian diet.

Reason: Because doing so will help prevent cruelty to animals caused by factory farming.

Here are the various examples they provide:

People should adopt a vegetarian diet because doing so will help prevent the cruelty to animals caused by factory farming.
If you are planning to eat chicken tonight, please consider how much that chicken suffered so that you could have a tender and juicy meal. Commercial growers cram the chickens so tightly together into cages that they never walk on their own legs, see sunshine, or flap their wings. In fact, their beaks must be cut off to keep them from pecking each other’s eyes out. One way to prevent such suffering is for more and more people to become vegetarians.
People who eat meat are no better than sadists who torture other sentient creatures to enhance their own pleasure. Unless you enjoy sadistic tyranny over others, you have only one choice: become a vegetarian.
People committed to justice might consider the extent to which our love of eating meat requires the agony of animals. A visit to a modern chicken factory—where chickens live their entire lives in tiny, darkened coops without room to spread their wings—might raise doubts about our right to inflict such suffering on sentient creatures. Indeed, such a visit might persuade us that vegetarianism is a more just alternative.

The coldest, most straightforward formulation of the argument is found in version 1. Argument 2 sounds more informal, in part because it uses the second person “you,” but also because it pleads with the reader by appealing to their imagination. Concrete imagery is one type way to practice pathos. Argument 3 uses the emotionally charged language of pathos again, but now enhanced by a kind of moral superiority over the reader. The phrase, “People who eat meat are no better than,” splits the audience into those whose morals align with the writer and those who don’t. By drawing attention to the writer’s character, it draws on ethos. However, as Ramage, et al point out, most readers find Argument 3 the most off-putting. It’s a poor, unpersuasive use of ethos.

Argument 4 practices ethos better, especially when communicating to an audience that expects civil conversation. Argument 4 also uses ethos by appealing to the reader’s values (“committed to justice”). Finally, by briefly mentioning at “visit to a modern chicken factory,” this version of the argument also taps into the reader’s imagination, a type of pathos.

The persuasiveness of Argument 4 shows how logos, pathos, and ethos aren’t easily separated into discrete elements that a writer drops in one sentence at a time. The same sentence or passage can practice logos, pathos, and ethos all at once. When going back to analyze the how the passage works, a critical reader can use the individual rhetorical terms to analyze its persuasiveness.

Logos: Appeals to logic and reasoning

Logic. Reason. Rationality. Logos is brainy and intellectual, cool, calm, collected, objective.

When an author relies on logos, it means that he or she is using logic, careful structure, and objective evidence to appeal to the audience. An author can appeal to an audience’s intellect by using information that can be fact checked (using multiple sources) and thorough explanations to support key points. Additionally, providing a solid and non-biased explanation of one’s argument is a great way for an author to invoke logos.

For example, if I were trying to convince my students to complete their homework, I might explain that I understand everyone is busy and they have other classes (non-biased), but the homework will help them get a better grade on their test (explanation). I could add to this explanation by providing statistics showing the number of students who failed and didn’t complete their homework versus the number of students who passed and did complete their homework (factual evidence).

Logical appeals rest on rational modes of thinking , such as

Comparison – a comparison between one thing (with regard to your topic) and another, similar thing to help support your claim. It is important that the comparison is fair and valid – the things being compared must share significant traits of similarity.
Cause/effect thinking – you argue that X has caused Y, or that X is likely to cause Y to help support your claim. Be careful with the latter – it can be difficult to predict that something “will” happen in the future.
Deductive reasoning – starting with a broad, general claim/example and using it to support a more specific point or claim
Inductive reasoning – using several specific examples or cases to make a broad generalization
Exemplification – use of many examples or a variety of evidence to support a single point
Elaboration – moving beyond just including a fact, but explaining the significance or relevance of that fact
Coherent thought – maintaining a well organized line of reasoning; not repeating ideas or jumping around

Pathos: Appeals to emotion and imagination

When an author relies on pathos, it means that he or she is trying to tap into the audience’s emotions to get them to agree with the author’s claim. An author using pathetic appeals wants the audience to feel something: anger, pride, joy, rage, or happiness. For example, many of us have seen the ASPCA commercials that use photographs of injured puppies, or sad-looking kittens, and slow, depressing music to emotionally persuade their audience to donate money.

Pathos-based rhetorical strategies are any strategies that get the audience to “open up” to the topic, the argument, or to the author. Emotions can make us vulnerable, and an author can use this vulnerability to get the audience to believe that his or her argument is a compelling one.

Pathetic appeals might include

Expressive descriptions of people, places, or events that help the reader to feel or experience those events
Vivid imagery of people, places or events that help the reader to feel like he or she is seeing those events
Sharing personal stories that make the reader feel a connection to, or empathy for, the person being described
Using emotion-laden vocabulary as a way to put the reader into that specific emotional mindset (what is the author trying to make the audience feel? and how is he or she doing that?)
Using any information that will evoke an emotional response from the audience . This could involve making the audience feel empathy or disgust for the person/group/event being discussed, or perhaps connection to or rejection of the person/group/event being discussed.

When reading a text, try to locate when the author is trying to convince the reader using emotions because, if used to excess, pathetic appeals can indicate a lack of substance or emotional manipulation of the audience. See the links below about fallacious pathos for more information.

Ethos: Appeals to values and image

Ethical appeals have two facets: audience values and authorial credibility/character.

On the one hand, when an author makes an ethical appeal, he or she is attempting to tap into the values or ideologies that the audience holds , for example, patriotism, tradition, justice, equality, dignity for all humankind, self preservation, or other specific social, religious or philosophical values (Christian values, socialism, capitalism, feminism, etc.). These values can sometimes feel very close to emotions, but they are felt on a social level rather than only on a personal level. When an author evokes the values that the audience cares about as a way to justify or support his or her argument, we classify that as ethos. The audience will feel that the author is making an argument that is “right” (in the sense of moral “right”-ness, i.e., “My argument rests upon that values that matter to you. Therefore, you should accept my argument”). This first part of the definition of ethos, then, is focused on the audience’s values.

On the other hand, this sense of referencing what is “right” in an ethical appeal connects to the other sense of ethos: the author. Ethos that is centered on the author revolves around two concepts: the credibility of the author and his or her character.

Credibility of the speaker/author is determined by his or her knowledge and expertise in the subject at hand. For example, if you are learning about Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, would you rather learn from a professor of physics or a cousin who took two science classes in high school thirty years ago? It is fair to say that, in general, the professor of physics would have more credibility to discuss the topic of physics. To establish his or her credibility, an author may draw attention to who he or she is or what kinds of experience he or she has with the topic being discussed as an ethical appeal (i.e., “Because I have experience with this topic – and I know my stuff! – you should trust what I am saying about this topic”). Some authors do not have to establish their credibility because the audience already knows who they are and that they are credible.

Character is another aspect of ethos, and it is different from credibility because it involves personal history and even personality traits. A person can be credible but lack character or vice versa. For example, in politics, sometimes the most experienced candidates – those who might be the most credible candidates – fail to win elections because voters do not accept their character. Politicians take pains to shape their character as leaders who have the interests of the voters at heart. The candidate who successfully proves to the voters (the audience) that he or she has the type of character that they can trust is more likely to win.

Thus, ethos comes down to trust. How can the author get the audience to trust him or her so that they will accept his or her argument? How can the the author make him or herself appear as a credible speaker who embodies the character traits that the audience values?

In building ethical appeals, we see authors

Referring either directly or indirectly to the values that matter to the intended audience (so that the audience will trust the speaker)
Using language, phrasing, imagery, or other writing styles common to people who hold those values, thereby “talking the talk” of people with those values (again, so that the audience is inclined to trust the speaker)
Referring to their experience and/or authority with the topic (and therefore demonstrating their credibility)
Referring to their own character, or making an effort to build their character in the text

When reading, you should always think about the author’s credibility regarding the subject as well as his or her character. Here is an example of a rhetorical move that connects with ethos: when reading an article about abortion, the author mentions that she has had an abortion. That is an example of an ethical move because the author is creating credibility via anecdotal evidence and first person narrative. In a rhetorical analysis project, it would be up to you, the analyzer, to point out this move and associate it with a rhetorical strategy.

When writers misuse logos, pathos, or ethos, arguments suffer

Above, we defined and described what logos, pathos, and ethos are and why authors may use those strategies. Sometimes, using a combination of logical, pathetic, and ethical appeals leads to a sound, balanced, and persuasive argument. It is important to understand, though, that using rhetorical appeals does not always lead to a sound, balanced argument.

In fact, any of the appeals could be misused or overused. When that happens, arguments can be weakened.

To see how authors can overuse emotional appeals and turn-off their target audience, visit the following link from WritingCommons.org : Fallacious Pathos .

To see how ethos can be misused or used in a manner that may be misleading, visit the following link to WritingCommons.org : Fallacious Ethos .

Kairos appeals

Literally translated, kairos means the “supreme moment.” In this case, it refers to appropriate timing, meaning when the writer presents certain parts of her argument as well as the overall timing of the subject matter itself. While not technically part of the Rhetorical Triangle, it is still an important principle for constructing an effective argument. If the writer fails to establish a strong kairotic appeal , then the audience may become polarized, hostile, or may simply just lose interest.

If appropriate timing is not taken into consideration and a writer introduces a sensitive or important point too early or too late in a text, the impact of that point could be lost on the audience. For example, if the writer’s audience is strongly opposed to her view, and she begins the argument with a forceful thesis of why she is right and the opposition is wrong, how do you think that audience might respond?

In this instance, the writer may have just lost the ability to make any further appeals to her audience in two ways: first, by polarizing them, and second, by possibly elevating what was at first merely strong opposition to what would now be hostile opposition. A polarized or hostile audience will not be inclined to listen to the writer’s argument with an open mind or even to listen at all. On the other hand, the writer could have established a stronger appeal to Kairos by building up to that forceful thesis, maybe by providing some neutral points such as background information or by addressing some of the opposition’s views, rather than leading with why she is right and the audience is wrong.

Additionally, if a writer covers a topic or puts forth an argument about a subject that is currently a non-issue or has no relevance for the audience, then the audience will fail to engage because whatever the writer’s message happens to be, it won’t matter to anyone. For example, if a writer were to put forth the argument that women in the United States should have the right to vote, no one would care; that is a non-issue because women in the United States already have that right.

When evaluating a writer’s kairotic appeal, ask the following questions:

Where does the writer establish her thesis of the argument in the text? Is it near the beginning, the middle, or the end? Is this placement of the thesis effective? Why or why not?
Where in the text does the writer provide her strongest points of evidence? Does that location provide the most impact for those points?
Is the issue that the writer raises relevant at this time, or is it something no one really cares about anymore or needs to know about anymore?

Exercise 4: Analyzing Kairos

In this exercise, you will analyze a visual representation of the appeal to Kairos. On the 26 th of February 2015, a photo of a dress was posted to Twitter along with a question as to whether people thought it was one combination of colors versus another. Internet chaos ensued on social media because while some people saw the dress as black and blue, others saw it as white and gold. As the color debate surrounding the dress raged on, an ad agency in South Africa saw an opportunity to raise awareness about a far more serious subject: domestic abuse.

Step 1 : Read this article (https://tinyurl.com/yctl8o5g) from CNN about how and why the photo of the dress went viral so that you will be better informed for the next step in this exercise:

Step 2 : Watch the video (https://youtu.be/SLv0ZRPssTI, transcript here ) from CNN that explains how, in partnership with The Salvation Army, the South African marketing agency created an ad that went viral.

Step 3 : After watching the video, answer the following questions:

Once the photo of the dress went viral, approximately how long after did the Salvation Army’s ad appear? Look at the dates on both the article and the video to get an idea of a time frame.
How does the ad take advantage of the publicity surrounding the dress?
Would the ad’s overall effectiveness change if it had come out later than it did?
How late would have been too late to make an impact? Why?

Media: “Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle

Write What Matters Copyright © 2020 by Liza Long; Amy Minervini; and Joel Gladd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Monday, August 3, 2015

A persuasive essay about greek mythology.

persuasive essay about myths and legends

6 comments:

This essay is AWESOME, in school I have to write a persuasive essay on the type of book genre I would like to read and I chose Greek mythology. It was a awesome choice because personally, I love Greek myth books thanks for all this help!!!

i know right!

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Three main purposes of myths are to help explain, entertain, and set moral codes for a culture. Myths can be informative and explain aspects of a culture's origin or beliefs. Many cultures have ...
Stories, myths and metaphors in persuasive writing
The word myth means story. But a genuine myth is not just any story; it is a story of an encounter with universal human energies and experiences. It is a door to another world. A myth is more than; it's a metaphor for life experiences. Through stories, the chaos of our life experience is put into a simple linear form by the storyteller.
Understanding Tales, Fables, Myths, Legends and Folklore Stories
Here are four genre checklists and cheat sheets to get you thinking about the characteristics and qualities of genre: 1. Checklist and Cheat Sheet for Narrative Tales, Folklore, Myths, Legends, and Fables. 2. Narrative Story, Narrative Essay, and Narrative Non-Fiction Checklist and Cheat Sheet. 3.
ELA G6: Myths: Not just Long Ago
In their mid-unit assessment, students will read the myth of Prometheus and write an analytical mini-essay identifying the elements of mythology present in the myth, describing a theme of the myth, and explaining how key details contribute to the theme. In the second half of the unit, students will read, think, talk, and write the myths alluded to in The Lightning Thief. They will determine ...
ᐅ Essays On Greek Mythology Free Argumentative, Persuasive
Free【 Essay on Greek Mythology 】- use this essays as a template to follow while writing your own paper. More than 100 000 essay samples Get a 100% Unique paper from best writers.
Myths And Legends Persuasive Speech
Lilly was eating breakfast swiftly. She tried to hide her impatience, but it was easily noticeable from her face. Dianna smiled to see that. When she...
Myths and Legends Essay
The purpose of this essay is to introduce you to argumentative writing. By the end of this unit, you should be familiar with: Claim. Counterclaim. Transitional words to be used in an argument. How to write commentary for your counterclaim. How to utilize persuasive words to convince your reader and classmates. Click on the pictures below to see ...
How To Write A Myth in 16 Steps With Examples
Learn how to write a myth in 16 steps with examples. Myths are influential fictional stories that have been passed down for generations.
Explore Myth and Legend with the Lure of Loch Ness
Learners discuss the scientific method, complete quizzes, and talk about other types of myths. This would be a great way to explore this topic. Solving Science Mysteries Help your class learn how to create a persuasive essay. Learners do research on a myth, such as the Bermuda Triangle, and come up with a speech to convince others of their ...
The Myths and Legends of the North American Indians
The Myths and Legends of the North American Indians contains two introductory chapters, whose information, according to Spence, is required to properly understand and appreciate the following five chapters covering the titular myths and legends. [1] In the first chapter Spence gives a historical overview of the discovery of the North American Indians as well as of their history with the ...
Persuasive Appeals
24. Persuasive Appeals. Rhetoric, as the previous chapters have discussed, is the way that authors use and manipulate language in order convey a message to an audience. Once we understand the rhetorical situation out of which a text is created, we can look at how all of those contextual elements shape the author's creation of the text.
A Persuasive Essay about Greek mythology
A Persuasive Essay about Greek mythology Should we need to learn the greek mythology?? why we should have to read the different stories about it?? why do you think that mythology is important to all of us??