Vladimir Propp: Defining Myth

Defining Myth Many scholars interpret theories of myth differently. Because of the variety of tales told in myths, it is hard to narrow it down to one established definition. Its’ Greek origin suggests myths are stories narrated either by mouth or through other media such as art, drama, or music. For this reason, myths can be applied universally due to their broadness. Legends, folktales, and fairytales are often confused with myths and for that reason many who study mythology attempt to distinguish between them. For one to understand the true meaning of myth, it is important to know the different definitions of the term. Each of the elements that will be discussed in this essay contributes to mythology as a whole. Most theories come …show more content…
He suggested that the tales have a controlled temporal sequence and that each part of a myth has a certain order that they never stray from. Propp came up with thirty-one units of action, called motifemes, that he believed were constant in every traditional tale. This meant that in every story the function of characters stayed the same even if the characters themselves changed. The thirty-one functions cannot be applied to all myth but it does however allow more insight for establishing a system for understanding the study of mythology. Propp’s theory’s made it easier to distinguish between myths and other sorts of tales in different …show more content…
Legends, myths, and folktale are all constantly mistaken for each other; however, they are very different when it comes to their composition. Legends are stories that are passed on from person to person and usually contain truthful elements. A myth could be described as a story based on a tradition or a legend. This type of story has a deep symbolic meaning behind it and can explain universal topics involving supernatural characters. A folktale is another type of story that is passed down orally from one generation to the next and can be grouped into many different categories. The greatest difference between myth and other types of stories is that myths are an attempt to explain the mysterious events that there is no evidence to support. Distinguishing between these stories and their content help people to better interpret them. Many theories over myth have contributed to the way people describe the stories that they contain. Without these theories, many would not be able to see the message behind the tales that they read. Because no single theory can cover all of the different types of myths, one can depict many variations of the terms meaning giving insight into the story’s content. Studying mythology and the theories behind it will allow people to explain the