Mythology and Folklore

Paper #1
Presented by: Marco Emilio B. Parce

Mythology is the study of myth and according to Magoulick

(2015), myths are the articulation of how characters undergo or

enact an ordered sequence of events. There must be a clear

distinction between myth and other genres of oral narratives, such

as legends and folktales. To summarize the definition of myths,

Magoulick writes: Myths are symbolic tales of the distant past

(often primordial times) that concern cosmogony and cosmology (the

origin and nature of the universe), may be connected to belief

systems or rituals, and may serve to direct social action and

values. A more common definition is that myths are those stories

or tales believed to be true. Other elements of these tales include

sacred origins, set in the distant past or other worlds, and with

unusual inhuman or heroic characters. When compared to science

however, myths can be considered insignificant, whimsical or

primitive but it can be quite parallel to science since myths also

enriches the human experience as myths often include moral

guidance.

In my own definition, myths are tales commonly structured as

stories which in the end describe the origin of something found in

nature. For example, in Philippine culture there are various

mountains that are named after people because they were once
believed to be living giants roaming the earth. These tales are

highly valued and often incite intrigue, they often include events

that seem impossible if it happened in the real world. Myths are

generally stories of our culture, and this intertwines with the

primary belief system inherent to communities in general. Myths in

other words, are a way of life envisioned by our ancestors and

passed on to us through oral traditions. Myths are a means in which

our ancestors can be understood, the salient use of metaphors in

myths are a testament to how well-versed our ancestors were when

it came to storytelling. In the truest sense, it was their own

form of art created by complex intellectual ideologies. To me,

myths are a way for us to reconnect with the past which is a gift

accorded to us by the ones who have already passed on. For

Filipinos, believing in myths allows us to share common lived

experiences with our brethren even if we never get to meet each

other. There is no doubt that myths play a beneficial role in our

upbringing, which provides us with a link to the past.

Folklore is defined as “the unwritten lore (stories and

proverbs and riddles and songs) of a culture” (Princeton

University, 2010). This is another genre of the verbal tradition

that is seemingly intertwined with culture. Folklore is essential

to human lives, particularly the human experience as it correlates

with cultural traditions to identities and values in contemporary

society. It also poses questions about the relationship of

tradition to modernization, individualism, and community

(University of Kentucky, 2011).

When compared to myths, folklore leans more toward the

formation of cultural tradition as it effects how identities are

created with the values presented in folk stories. In a way, it

hits closer to home since it focuses mainly on a specific community

or group of people. Folklore not only includes stories, but also

traditional beliefs, customs, and even superstitions. It is

proverbially expressive and encompasses almost every body of

knowledge a culture possesses. In other words, folklore reveals

and helps us understand our humanity as communities driven by the

sense to celebrate the human condition have created stories, songs,

dance, music, rituals, customs and other artistic endeavors to

appreciate tradition and an expressive culture.

Both myths and folklore, have a strong influence on

contemporary society. A culture cannot simply let go of their own

myths and folklore, it would go against tradition. Wouldn’t we do

our ancestors an injustice if we stop passing on their stories for

generations to come? We, as a people greatly benefit from the

knowledge that they bring no matter how silly some of the

narratives may be. These genres of oral tradition are embedded

into our lives from the moment we first encounter them. It shapes

our beliefs, behaviors, and values. Myths are colorful stories

meant to tell the origin of humans, nature and the cosmos while

folklore imposes the formation of creative expressions that adhere

to a specific group of people. They both form a system that is

coherent, that which forms a connection between us, our community

and the past. We cannot live without them, and myths and folklore

cannot live on without us.

References:
Magoulick, M. (2015). “What Is Myth?”. Folklore Connections.
Retrieved from https://faculty.gcsu.edu/custom-website/mary-
magoulick/defmyth.htm on May 11, 2018
Princeton University. (2010). “About WordNet.” WordNet.
(http://wordnet.princeton.edu/wordnet).
University of Kentucky. (2011). “Intro To Folklore And Mythology”
Retrieved from https://soc.as.uky.edu/intro-folklore-and-
mythology on May 11, 2018