So many cultures have created their own folk heroes because there is a human need to look up to someone. For example, every country and every region, and every culture seems to tell stories of people, who may or may have not existed in some entity, who have done extraordinary things. The things that these people do usually are along the lines of creating some geologic feature or single-handedly winning some big battle in some big war. Even us Americans are guilty in the creation of these pinnacles of everything good and awesome. Ever hear the story about the really big lumberjack with an equally massive blue ox who could chop down whole forests in one swing? How about the story of the guy who wore a cook pot on his head, did nothing but eat apples, and roam the Ohio River-valley and plant the seeds from all those apples that he ate? Its not that I dislike the stories of Paul Bunion or Johnny Appleseed, it’s just that sometimes I feel that folk heroes have gotten just too strange.
Other cultures created their own folk heroes to set examples for themselves; much like what the bible has done for the christians, in other cultures their heroes have had the same effect. The tales of heroes set an example and offer an insight as to how people should live. As mentioned on the show 'Clash of the Gods' (History Channel, Monday nights 9:00PM EST), they define a 'hero' as 'one who has to suffer'. Only through overcoming their suffering/obstacles are they regarded as a hero. When people of anytime hear stories of others who are suffering, or who have suffered, they either learn from what is being told, or are grateful for what they have. Folk heroes are 'morale stimulators'.
Many cultures have created their own folk heroes for entertainment, and as a lesson that can be learned and passed on from generation to generation. Also, some folk tales, and the heroes in them, are spawned from actual events that may have took place in a particular culture's past. The heroes in these stories serve as a type of role model, because of the righteous deeds they perform. An example can obviously be Beowulf, a man who goes abroad to defeat the evil monster Grendel, after hearing of the atrocious deeds Grendel has done.
Many cultures create their own folk heroes for many reasons. One reason could be that they are in need of one themselves. They feel that whatever hard time or trouble they are facing could be fixed if they only had a hero to save or help them from their troubles. Some cultures create a hero to teach a certain lesson that can be passed down through the generations.
So many cultures create their own folk tale to keep their faith alive. Lets face it if you are muslim or christian you don't want tell your grandchildren a story that one day jewish hero will come and save them. You want your culture to live on, so you use a hero that is of your kind so that it will be embrassed an not denied.
Cultures created their own folk heroes for various reasons. Many people needed something to believe in, someone that would give them strength and courage. They entertained people with folktales about them, because they wanted to set examples within their culture.
Many cultures create folk heroes for many reasons. Few of these reasons are: To explain history for the listeners to be interested; the explanation of events which they did not understand to full extent themselves; and to show morals a person should comprehend.
In these cases, the hero is a symbol in many ways. To explain history, the hero goes through the hardships the people of that time went through, so it proves that even heros can have problems. The explanation part gave the hero a strong sense of inhuman strengths since it would explain the unknown. Also, The hero shows the morals of how the society was supposed to be portrayed, to give the people something to look up too. In all, these reasons are why folk heroes are so important in may cultures.
Jacob Saunders-Attainment of perfection belongs to no man, but the ability to envision, to fantasize, to conceive of a person who fulfills the standards, the values, and all of the moral absolutes to the unmitigated utmost degree of a society is a very real and utilized ability of every individual that ever has or will exist. To breathe the breath of life into a thought, to give visualization to your dreams and your perspective of perfection, or ideals of your society, is to create a character truly embodying these traits, and such desire sparks the creativity in those certain people of every society for larger-than-life folk tales and characters such as Beowulf of the Anglo-Saxon era.
So many different cultures create their own folk heroes because they want to set an example for their people. They all have values and beliefs that they believe in, and they use these heroes to demonstrate them in a glorifying manor that inspires others to try to follow in their example. Beowulf, for example, demonstrates great bravery and nobility in his epic endeavors. He was created by the poet partially in the hopes of motivating listeners and readers to demonstrate these same virtues in their lives and actions.
Heroes, in any society, can be seen as a beacon of light and hope, as well as entertainment for those that looked towards them. Folk heroes, in the eyes of the various cultures that create them, are use in similar ways. Heroes are made to convey society's faults and weaknesses, being the strength that everyone lacks. Within a dismal community, heroes are needed to shed light on these times. One can conclude that heroes are figures of hope and light, shining through the darkness, or oppression that dulls their society.
Kinyata Dessasau: Other cultures may have created their own folk tales for a sense of hope. These imaginary heroes with different cultures created some how kept them to believe that when times gets rough, they will be rescued. To many cultures, folk tales are just stories to look up to when it seemed as though there is no hope left. This is why the stories continue on for generations because parents will make sure that their children believe in the old folk tales just to give them a sense of hope. When you look at all these heroes we have created in America it is the perfect example. All children look for superman to save them when something bad is taking place.
So many cultures have created their own folk heroes because there is a human need to look up to someone. For example, every country and every region, and every culture seems to tell stories of people, who may or may have not existed in some entity, who have done extraordinary things. The things that these people do usually are along the lines of creating some geologic feature or single-handedly winning some big battle in some big war. Even us Americans are guilty in the creation of these pinnacles of everything good and awesome. Ever hear the story about the really big lumberjack with an equally massive blue ox who could chop down whole forests in one swing? How about the story of the guy who wore a cook pot on his head, did nothing but eat apples, and roam the Ohio River-valley and plant the seeds from all those apples that he ate? Its not that I dislike the stories of Paul Bunion or Johnny Appleseed, it’s just that sometimes I feel that folk heroes have gotten just too strange.
ReplyDeleteOther cultures created their own folk heroes to set examples for themselves; much like what the bible has done for the christians, in other cultures their heroes have had the same effect. The tales of heroes set an example and offer an insight as to how people should live. As mentioned on the show 'Clash of the Gods' (History Channel, Monday nights 9:00PM EST), they define a 'hero' as 'one who has to suffer'. Only through overcoming their suffering/obstacles are they regarded as a hero. When people of anytime hear stories of others who are suffering, or who have suffered, they either learn from what is being told, or are grateful for what they have. Folk heroes are 'morale stimulators'.
ReplyDeleteMany cultures have created their own folk heroes for entertainment, and as a lesson that can be learned and passed on from generation to generation. Also, some folk tales, and the heroes in them, are spawned from actual events that may have took place in a particular culture's past. The heroes in these stories serve as a type of role model, because of the righteous deeds they perform. An example can obviously be Beowulf, a man who goes abroad to defeat the evil monster Grendel, after hearing of the atrocious deeds Grendel has done.
ReplyDeleteMany cultures create their own folk heroes for many reasons. One reason could be that they are in need of one themselves. They feel that whatever hard time or trouble they are facing could be fixed if they only had a hero to save or help them from their troubles. Some cultures create a hero to teach a certain lesson that can be passed down through the generations.
ReplyDeleteSo many cultures create their own folk tale to keep their faith alive. Lets face it if you are muslim or christian you don't want tell your grandchildren a story that one day jewish hero will come and save them. You want your culture to live on, so you use a hero that is of your kind so that it will be embrassed an not denied.
ReplyDeleteCultures created their own folk heroes for various reasons. Many people needed something to believe in, someone that would give them strength and courage. They entertained people with folktales about them, because they wanted to set examples within their culture.
ReplyDeleteMany cultures create folk heroes for many reasons. Few of these reasons are: To explain history for the listeners to be interested; the explanation of events which they did not understand to full extent themselves; and to show morals a person should comprehend.
ReplyDeleteIn these cases, the hero is a symbol in many ways. To explain history, the hero goes through the hardships the people of that time went through, so it proves that even heros can have problems. The explanation part gave the hero a strong sense of inhuman strengths since it would explain the unknown. Also, The hero shows the morals of how the society was supposed to be portrayed, to give the people something to look up too. In all, these reasons are why folk heroes are so important in may cultures.
Jacob Saunders-Attainment of perfection belongs to no man, but the ability to envision, to fantasize, to conceive of a person who fulfills the standards, the values, and all of the moral absolutes to the unmitigated utmost degree of a society is a very real and utilized ability of every individual that ever has or will exist. To breathe the breath of life into a thought, to give visualization to your dreams and your perspective of perfection, or ideals of your society, is to create a character truly embodying these traits, and such desire sparks the creativity in those certain people of every society for larger-than-life folk tales and characters such as Beowulf of the Anglo-Saxon era.
ReplyDeleteSo many different cultures create their own folk heroes because they want to set an example for their people. They all have values and beliefs that they believe in, and they use these heroes to demonstrate them in a glorifying manor that inspires others to try to follow in their example. Beowulf, for example, demonstrates great bravery and nobility in his epic endeavors. He was created by the poet partially in the hopes of motivating listeners and readers to demonstrate these same virtues in their lives and actions.
ReplyDeleteHeroes, in any society, can be seen as a beacon of light and hope, as well as entertainment for those that looked towards them. Folk heroes, in the eyes of the various cultures that create them, are use in similar ways. Heroes are made to convey society's faults and weaknesses, being the strength that everyone lacks. Within a dismal community, heroes are needed to shed light on these times. One can conclude that heroes are figures of hope and light, shining through the darkness, or oppression that dulls their society.
ReplyDeleteKinyata Dessasau: Other cultures may have created their own folk tales for a sense of hope. These imaginary heroes with different cultures created some how kept them to believe that when times gets rough, they will be rescued. To many cultures, folk tales are just stories to look up to when it seemed as though there is no hope left. This is why the stories continue on for generations because parents will make sure that their children believe in the old folk tales just to give them a sense of hope. When you look at all these heroes we have created in America it is the perfect example. All children look for superman to save them when something bad is taking place.
ReplyDelete