Course Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
LL ED 563 Myths and Folktales in Children's Literatur (3): Myths are neither relics nor quaint stories once told by ancient or primitive people. Myths are defining stories of our humanity. In this course we will be looking at myth as something alive in us and among us--a means by which we (and children) make sense of our lives and the workings of the cosmos.
Overview
This course is about mythology, folktales, legends, and fables; a collection of stories that come out of the oral tradition as opposed to a written tradition and are often called traditional literature. What identifies a story as being part of the body of traditional literature is that its origins lie in oral storytelling. Traditional tales were first told and only later written down. As such traditional tales have no known author, only a reteller. We don't know who made up the first Cinderella story or Hansel and Gretel. That person has long since vanished, leaving no written record of the story.
In some children's literature schemes, traditional literature stories are thought to be very old in origin. These schemes also state that there are strict divisions between the categories of traditional literature: myth, folktale, fable, and legend. Conventional definitions describe myth as a story coming out of a belief system that points toward some item of faith or explains the divine purpose behind some natural, reoccurring phenomenon. Myths tend to be "official" stories, sacred stories that emmenate from religious and/or political leaders and speak to how people are supposed to be with another and the divine. Folktales are stories that come from the common people, the "folk", and usually are about characters that occupy lower positions in society. Unlike myths, folktales tend to be secular in nature. A fable is a story that tells an explicit moral. A legend is a fictitious story about a person who may have existed, King Arthur or Robin Hood for example.
In this course we will be taking a different point of view. We will be working from a perspective that holds that the divisions between these categories are neither clear nor stable. We will also be operating from a conviction that though these stories may be old in origin, they are freshly remade in generation after generation.
The border between myth and folktale resides less in the structure of the tale or even in the origins of the tale; the border is set by culture with culture shaping how readers and listeners receive the story.
Here lies a possible connection to children and children's literature. If myths are stories that explain how the world works or rather how we wish it would work, and how we ought to live in it, a culture would desire to make these stories known to children as a necessary part of a child's learning about the world. Myths and folktales, however we define them, are part the acculturation of children.
A popular trend in elementary school curriculum is to use myths and folklore as a means of studying a different culture, for example, reading Japanese folktales and myths while working through a unit of study on Japan. There are a number of problems with outsiders trying to understand a different culture through that culture's stories. How do we know the outsider has the story "right?" Does a story retain its cultural meaning when it is removed from that culture? What choices did the reteller make in translating the story to an audience who is unfamiliar with the culture from which the story comes? We'll be addressing some of them in the lesson on Fakelore. We are not going to discourage this practice, but rather look at why that culture's stories resonate with us and question the reliability of the retelling we are reading.
We won't be studying historical artifacts and we won't be trying to understand another culture from the inside out. We will be looking at how some stories with very, very old origins are continually being remade and retold and the holds these stories have upon our imaginations. And these are stories that we have traditionally offered children. We'll question why we, members of adult society, wish these stories on our children. The culmination of this course will be our investigations of how stories that are old in origin continue to be remade and disseminated in contemporary culture.
Note: For readability, all titles of works are given in italics throughout this coures, unless they appear in a reference list.
Student Expectations
A Web-based course grants you a great deal of freedom, but also a great deal of responsibility. While you don't have a fixed schedule of classes, you do have a fixed schedule of deadlines by which assignments must be completed. In general, you should expect to put in about as much work, and about as many hours, as you would for a traditional resident-instruction course.
Be aware that there is much reading in this course. Pace yourself accordingly and don't allow yourself to get behind. The majority of our readings will be short stories and scholarly articles; however, we will be reading a few books in their entirety. These books will be highlighted on the syllabus; please note where they fall in the schedule and read ahead as needed. This class is also highly participatory, as you will be in electronic discussions with your classmates throughout the semester.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course you will:
- Become familiar with various myths from an array of cultures and time periods.
- Think about and discuss how elements of these pieces of traditional literature reoccur in our culture today and how these stories are made fresh with a new generation.
- Examine the many ways in which myth is active today.
- Encounter some of the scholarly literature concerning myth and folklore and be able to explain the ideas contained in that scholarship and then use those ideas to gain insight into the interpretation of traditional literature.
- Have fun.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Using the Library
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a
distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
Technical Requirements
| Operating System |
Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
| Processor |
2 GHz or higher |
| Memory |
1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space |
20 GB free disk space |
| Browser |
We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled.
Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows
from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins |
Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe]
|
| Additional Software |
Microsoft Office (2007 or later)
|
| Internet Connection |
Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer |
Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM |
Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers |
Required |
| Monitor |
Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Major Assignment
- Posting on Discussion Forums. Because we meet only in cyberspace, it is vital to post regularly each week. This course can work only if we all regularly post our considered thoughts in the discussion threads. I expect you will post in a thoughtful and pertinent manner to each of the threaded discussions. Not only should you respond to your readings, but you should also respond to the ideas put forth by your fellow classmates.
- Reaction Papers. Throughout the course you will be asked to turn in 500 to 800 words of your thoughts concerning the reading you are doing for the class. Reaction papers should discuss each reading assignment, at least briefly. Reaction papers may focus primarily on one particular piece as long as you mention something about the other assigned readings. You should expect to discuss both the myths we read and the scholarly essays. Submit each reaction paper to the appropriate drop box, and also post it to the appropriate threaded discussion for your classmates to read.
- Share Stories. As you find myths and folktales, share them with the rest of the class. We will have a dedicated thread to "Stories You Just Have to Know About." You are welcome to share as many stories as you wish, but everyone should share at least one story. These stories should be different from the ones assigned to read.
- Myth Project. One of the ideas you will be asked to consider throughout the duration of the class is that both myth and folklore are alive and vibrant today. Myths are constantly being told and re-told, and as a part of this myth-making experience you will be asked to do two things for your final project.
- First, you will be asked to select a tale or tale type, locate as many versions and variants as you can using various types of research, and make an annotated bibliography and a comparison chart.
- Second, you will be asked to critique the versions and variants you found. The second part of this project may take any form, so long as you are able to submit it to your instructor and share it in some fashion with your classmates. For example, a story could be posted to the threaded discussion forum, an electronic multimedia presentation could be uploaded to a Web page and shared, or artwork could be photographed and distributed.
We will be talking more about this project as the semester progresses, so keep track of myths that interest you.
Course Philosophy
A Note on Risk Taking. In this course we value risk taking. If you can connect your idea to the assigned readings, or to your own research, or to something you read on the discussion forum, then please take the risk and share your idea.
Semester Grading
| Posting to Threaded Discussions (including Shared Stories) |
25% |
| Reaction Papers |
50% |
| Myth Project |
25% |
| Semester Total |
100% |
Course Schedule
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
|
Lesson 1 - Course Introduction |
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
- Create a student home page.
- Practice using e-mail.
- Practice using the drop box.
|
|
Lesson 2 - Oral Traditions |
| Readings: |
- Tartar, "Little Red Riding Hood," in The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 3-24.
- Ashliman, "Little Red Riding Hood and other tales of Aarne-Thompson type 333."
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0333.html
- Heiner, "Picture Books Bibliography"(find versions owned by your local library)
http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/ridinghood/books.html
- Crago, "What Is a Fairy Tale," pp. 8-26 (Library Reserves).
- Warner, "Old Wives' Tale," in Tatar's The Classic Fairy Tales, pp 309-316.
- Darnton, "Peasants Tell Tales: The Meaning of Mother Goose," in Tatar's The Classic Fairy Tales, pp.280-291.
- Zipes, "Once There was a Time: An Introduction to the History and Ideology of Folk and Fairy Tales," pp. 1-22 (Library Reserves).
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
|
|
Lesson 3 - Versions and Variants |
| Readings: |
- Tatar, "Introduction: Snow White," in The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 74-100.
- Ashliman, "Snow-White and other tales of Aarne Thompson type 709."
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0709.html
- Heiner, "Picture Books Bibliography" (find the versions owned by your local library).
http://www/surlalunefairytales.com/sevendwarfs/books.html
- Propp, "Folklore and Literature," and "From Morphology of the Folktale." in Tatar's The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 378-387.
- Yolen, "Introduction," pp. 1-16 (Library Reserves).
- Hasse, "Yours, Mine, or Ours? Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, and the Ownership of Fairy Tales," in Tatar's The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 353-364.
- Zipes, "Fairy Tales, Animal Fables, Trickster Stories, and Peace Tales," pp. 113-161 (Library Reserves).
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
- Make a comparison chart of the Snow White versions and variants.
- Write a reaction paper.
|
|
Lesson 4 - Being Female |
| Readings: |
- Tatar, "Introduction: Cinderella," in The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 101-137.
- Tatar, "Spinning Tales: The Distaff Side," in The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales, pp. 106-133.
- Ashliman, "Aarne-Thompson folktale type 510A and related stories of persecuted heroines."
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0510a.html
- Heiner, Picture Books Bibliography: (find the versions owned by your local library).
http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/cinderella/picturebooks.html
- Warner, "Monstrous Mothers: Women Over the Top," in Six Myths of Our Time, pp. 3-23.
- Gilbert & Gubar, "Snow White and Her Wicked Stepmother," in The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 291-297.
- Lieberman, Marcia K. "'Some Day My Prince Will Come': Female Acculturation through the Fairy Tale." College English, 34 (3), Dec. 1972, 383-395.
- Hall, "The Work of Representation," in Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices, pp. 36-41, and pp. 68-69. (Library Reserve).
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
|
|
Lesson 5 - Boys: The Hero Tales |
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
- Write a reaction paper.
|
|
Lesson 6 - Children |
| Readings: |
- Tatar, "Introduction: Hansel and Gretel," in The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 179-211.
- Grimm, "The Wolf and the Seven Kids."
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm005.html
- Andersen, "The Little Match Girl," in The Classic Fairy Tales, pp 233-234.
- Warner, "Little Angels, Little Monsters: Keeping Childhood Innocent," pp. 43-62.
- Tatar, "Fact and Fantasy," in The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales, pp. 39-57.
- Shavit, "The Concept of Childhood and Children's Folk Tales: Test Case – "Little Red Riding Hood," in The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 317-332.
- Bettelheim, "Hansel and Gretel," In The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 273-279.
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
|
|
Lesson 7 - Monsters, Ogres, and Beasts |
| Readings/Videos: |
- Block, "Beast" (Library Reserve).
- Tatar, "Introdcution: Beauty and the Beast," in The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 25-73.
- Tatar, The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales, pp. 137-192.
- Warner, "Beautiful Beasts: The Call of the Wild," pp. 63-82.
- Tatar, “Bluebeard,” in The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 138-178.
- Shrek (video/Optional)
- Shrek II (video/Optional)
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
- Write a reaction paper.
|
|
Lesson 8 - Tricksters and Fools |
| Readings: |
- Lester, The Tales of Uncle Remus.
- Hyde, Trickster Makes This World (Library Reserve).
- "Introduction," pp. 3-14.
- "That's My Way, Coyote, Not Your Way," pp. 39-54.
- "Trickster and Gender," pp. 335-343.
- Kimmel, "The Jar of Fools" (Library Reserve).
- Lester, “Foreword,” in The Tales of Uncle Remus, pp. xiii - xxi. (Library Reserve)
- Singer (Library Reserve).
- The Elders of Chelm & Genendel's Key," pp. 3-7.
- "The Fools of Chelm & the Stupid Carp," pp. 71-76.
- "Shlemiel the Businessman," pp. 130-138.
- "When Shlemiel Went to Warsaw," pp. 194-105.
- "Dalfunka, Where the Rich Live Forever," pp. 254-259.
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
|
|
Lesson 9 - Creation Stories |
| Readings: |
- Hamilton, In the Beginning.
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
- Write a reaction paper.
|
|
Lesson 10 - Disney and "Fakelore" |
| Readings: |
- Anonymous (c.5 A.D.), Ode to Mulan
http://members.tripod.com/~ChineseAlliance/arts/mulan.html
- Singer, "Fakelore, Multiculturalism, and the Ethics of Children's Literature," (Library Reserve).
- Giroux, "Animating Youth: the Disnification of Children's Culture," (Library Reserve).
- Zipes, "Breaking the Disney Spell," in Tatar's The Classic Fairy Tales, pp. 332-352.
- Disney's Mulan (video)
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
|
|
Lesson 11- Childhood Myths and Urban Legends |
| Readings: |
- Clark, Flights of Fancy, Leaps of Faith: Children's Myths in Contemporary America.
- The Origins of the Tooth Fairy
- The Origins of the Easter Bunny
- The Origins of Santa Claus (aka St. Nicholaus)
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
- Write a reaction paper.
- Complete the End-of-Course Survey.
|
|
Lesson 12 - Final Project |
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
- Contribute to the threaded discussion.
- Submit final myth project.
|
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
Please refer to the University Registrar's information about University grading policies.
Deferred Grades
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy
G-9: Academic Integrity
(for undergraduate students in undergraduate courses) and policy
GCAC-805 Academic Integrity
(for graduate students and undergraduate students in graduate courses), an academic integrity violation is “an intentional,
unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to
gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student
academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete
all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been
permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with
papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you
to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from
Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must
identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information,
use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share
instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity
should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw
from the affected course
unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see
G-9: Academic Integrity
or
GCAC-805 Academic Integrity
as appropriate). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students
will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students
who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic
outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other
outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail
elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from
their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal
integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help
create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the
fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is
requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, procedures
allow a student to accept or contest/appeal the allegation. If a student
chooses to contest/appeal the allegation, the case will then be managed by
the respective school, college or campus Academic Integrity Committee.
Review procedures may vary by college, campus, or school, but all follow the
aforementioned policies.
All academic integrity violations are referred to the
Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, which may assign an educational intervention and/or apply a Formal
Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion.
Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy is
included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a
course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course,
please contact us by going to the
Contacts & Help page.
University Policies
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the
World Campus Student Center website.
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Students with disabilities participating in internship, practicum, student teaching, or other experiential learning opportunities as part of their degree requirements may also be eligible for reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access and opportunity. These accommodations are determined through an interactive process involving the student, their University supervisor, and the site supervisor. Student Disability Resources can assist students with identifying potential barriers, facilitating accommodation requests, and coordinating with University supervisors to promote inclusive learning experiences.