Lisa asked what the difference was between myth, folktale and fairy tale and if Sarah Ruhl used any elements of these narrative forms in her play.
The Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana) the virginal huntress associated with the moon.
There are as many different definitions of "myth," "folktale," and "fairytale" as there are storytellers and these terms are often used interchangeably. But through the years, I have formulated my own definitions that make the best sense to me: Mythology, in a broad sense, is the truths and beliefs of any group of people. This would include all religion. We are not used to using the word in this way, but commonly use "myth" to describe an untruth, but that was not the original use of the word.
The Hindu God, Lord Vishnu. He is the Supreme Soul who preserves the universe.
When ancient civilizations were conquered, the new powers often appropriated cultural elements and gave them new meaning to indoctrinate the people into the conquering culture. For example, we see this in the pagan roots of many Christian holidays. By making "myth" mean “a lie,” it unempowered the religious stories of the Greeks and Romans. But if we remember that myths are religious stories, it helps with distinguishing them from other kinds of oral-based stories.
The West African Orisha, Oya, Goddess of wind, storms and transformation.
Myths usually deal with creation, Gods, mortality and afterlife. They often give explanation to natural phenomenon, such as the seasons and the movement of the stars. Myths hold the beliefs of a culture within the safe confines of a story.
Hodja Nasruddin, the wise-fool of Middle Eastern folk tales
Folktales are just as they sound: tales of the folks; the common people. These are stories that people sat around and told each other for entertainment, but more importantly, for instruction. They carry the collective wisdom passed down for generations. They teach values and are often cautionary: don't talk to strangers; honesty in the best policy; honor your elders.
The procession of the Fairy Queen in the Irish fairy tale, Tam Lin
Fairy tales are similar in theme, but tend to either be grander hero journeys (think princesses and kings) or have some magical element. The supernatural element would come from a fairy, witch or other magical being, but not a deity. I don't see a lot of folk or fairy tale elements in Ruhl's play. I think she is employing a very post-modern look at mythic themes.
An early illustration from Grimm's Little Red Riding Hood
Again, these terms are not concrete. Is Little Red Riding Hood a fairy tale or a folk tale? It's often called a fairy tale, but the tone is more of a common folk tale. There is no magical element, but there is a wolf that talks (although talking animals are common in folk tales.) And don't even get me started on Legends, Tall Tales, Allegories... you can see the path through the woods is not always clear.
Wendy
4 comments:
Good thoughts. Of course, what is "religion" to one person is "myth" to an other.
That's one of the main line of inquiries of Cultural Anthropology.
To a non-Christian the entire bible is a myth. To a non-'Hindu', the Vedas are myth.
I believe that the line between a fairy/folk tale and a myth/religion lies in the efficacy of the telling of the tale. In The Liturgical Dramas of the Medieval Roman Catholic Cristian Church, scenes were played out as a part of the Mass and wee believed to have a real-world effect. Same with the pre-hunt dances performed by the Plains Tribes in the 1800's that told the story of a successful hunt in order to secure one.
I believe the difference between myth/religion and folk/fairy tale is in the believed efficacy of the telling.
In the Liturgical Dramas of the Medieval Roman Catholic Church (Quem Queritas being the earliest example), there was a real-world effect by performing them, namely: securing God's favor.
The same holds true for the pre-hunt dances performed by the North American Plains Tribes during the 1800 in which a successful hunt was pantomimed in order to secure a god's blessing for a successful hunt.
A folk/fairy tale is told without the belief that the telling itself will secure a divine blessing, or have any real world effect.
You bring up a very important point and one that I agree with completely. My definitions were more for modern-day usage, where for most tellers the efficacy is no longer a part of the telling.
Wendy, I agree with you that these ideas are fluid, and that Ruhl is primarily working within the idea of myth, especially considering its relationship to "truth" - ie by referencing myth and its possibility of being not-true, she invites us to problematize the second myth system she uses: the myth of the 1950s American family. Also, I think you make a great point that many (most?) stories actually fall in an interstitial space between forms.
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