George Gag Mrs. Neubarth Enriched ELA 8 February 10th, 2023 Title Myths and folktales shape our society and the literature we read. Myths and folktales are commonly used in the literature we read today as allusions and symbols. These symbols and allusions help us understand the message or theme the author is trying to convey. Myths and folktales teach good morals to both young and old people. My final reason for continuing to teach them is that many of today's ethics are based on myths and folktales. First, one example of a myth being used as an allusion is in All Summer in a Day. They refer to the planet as Venus, which is a representation of Aphrodite. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of beauty, which helps us understand why some of the characters were so drawn to the planet. Another instance of this is in Roadside Picnic, with a character named Vulture. He is an allusion to Euronymos, who is a Greek god that feeds on others' failures. This helps us understand more about Vulture's character and what his real motivations are in the book. …show more content…
In the old Russian folktale, "The Old Grandfather and His Little Grandson," the grandfather is treated like he is less than human. The grandson then tells his parents that he will treat them that way when they get old. This teaches the importance of treating others as you would like to be treated. One example of an allusion from a myth or folktale being used to show a person's morals is in Roadside Picnic, with a character named Burbridge. He is an allusion to Dolos. This shows that he does not truly care for his family but just manipulates people to make him look like a good