How does “literature” demonstrate the similarities and differences of cultures?

Points to consider:

• Analyzing folktale's, legends, myths, and oral histories.
• Consider the influence that the literature one culture may have had on the literature of another culture or on the literature of the present day.
  
• What similarities can you find in the stories from different cultures?
• How have stories effected cultures over time?
• How are stories shared? In the past and today.

Project Suggestions:

Choose three cultures studied this year. Read three or more pieces of literature from that culture. Consider selecting folktales, legends, poetry, myths, or oral histories. Record your findings in the chart below.

Create a chart including elements such as type of literature, what is learned about the culture through the literature, and what feeling it generated., identify the elements that are similar and those that are different. Hypothesize why there may be similarities and differences and what may have caused the similarities and differences.