What's the difference between Myth, Folktale and Fairy Tale?

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

The Meaning of Myth

(A carving of Lachesis, representing the present;

one of the three sisters that weaves the thread of life)

This fall UVU’s Department of Theatrical Arts will be presenting Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl. Eurydice premiered in 2003, but is based on the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. What could a story written over two thousand years ago have to do with contemporary theatre? And why are we still telling this story?

The answer is as old as myth itself. Myth is any story that reflects a community’s beliefs. They differ from folktales, which reflect a community’s collective wisdom; and from fairytales, which are usually magical fantasies. Myths tackle the big issues: creation, love, life and death.

According to J. F. Beirlein, who wrote Living Myths, Myths still speak to us today because they address some important truths about the human condition. They acknowledge our limited vision and our finite mortality. Myths speak to what makes a meaningful life and what may happen to us after we die.

Mythology is the attempt to understand the reality of the Divine and the aching we have for something beyond ourselves.

“Limited in his nature, infinite in his desires, man is a fallen god who remembers the heavens.” Alphonse de Lamartine, French poet (1790-1869)

The mythic hero’s journey is reflected in each of our lives. We are born to be a hero, but just as the protagonist in a myth, we must struggle and transcend above the very things that would destroy us.

Myths address the paradox of the freedom and burden of human choice. Do we make our choices or do our choices make us?

Myths explore relationships. Our sense of meaning is relational; we exist with, in and through others. Our process of becoming cannot happen in isolation. Our parents, allies and especially our enemies define who we are.

Myths looks at our identity and participation in the cosmos. How do we fit into our community? The whole of the human race? The universe?

In short, the commonalities of human existence are explored in Myths and when we connect to them, they help us process our experiences. Eurydice looks at all these things, but especially life and death, remembering and forgetting, and how these elements interplay with our most important relationships.

Eugene O’Neill wrote that the secret of life was understanding that “Man is born broken; he lives by mending; and the grace of God is the glue,” to which Beirlein added, “Myths are threads for the process of mending. The threads may fray and break, but we know that there is a pattern being sewn.”

Whatever our lives are, we are not alone…the whole history of humankind is in it with us.