A study on Myths and legends of Mermaid from Finland

1. WELCOME TO QUEEN MARY SCHOOL

2. FINLAND-MERMAID
Group Captain-
Pal Jain
Members-Sania
Kadakia, Vinnie Jain,
Vidhi Joshi,
Devashree Gupta,
Pearl Jain, Aarya
Kamat, Sarah Hakim

3. WHAT ARE MYTHS AND LEGEND?
•A legend is a semi-true story, which has
been passed on from person-to-person
and has important meaning or symbolism
for the culture in which it originates.
• A legend usually includes an element of
truth, or is based on historic facts, but
with 'mythical qualities'.
•Legends usually involve heroic characters
or fantastic places and often encompass
the spiritual beliefs of the culture in which
they originate.
•A myth is a story based on tradition or
legend, which has a deep symbolic
meaning.
•A myth 'conveys a truth' to those who tell
it and hear it, rather than necessarily
recording a true event.
•Although some myths can be accounts of
actual events, they have become
transformed by symbolic meaning or
shifted in time or place.
•Myths are often used to explain universal
and local beginnings and involve
supernatural beings. The great power of
the meaning of these stories

4. HOW ARE MYTHS AND LEGEND DIFFERENT
FROM WRITTEN STORIES WITH AN ORAL
TRADITION?
MYTH
• A myth is a traditional story,
which may describe the origins of
the world and/or of a people.
• Myths are commonly used to
explain the unknown. In addition
to being used to explain origins,
myths can be used to demystify a
supernatural or unresolved event.
• Myths present reality in a
sensational way, often using
creatures and gods. Many cultural
traditions are rooted in myths.
LEGEND
• A legend is a story purported to
be historical in nature, but
without substantiation.
• Legends are stories that seem
realistic and historic in nature,
but they are not verified. Some
common examples of legends
include William Tell, Robin Hood,
Atlantis and King Arthur.
• Some legends are based on real
characters, although the actual
stories may not be true. Legends
tend to evolve and become
exaggerated as they are passed
down over time.

5. How do the traits of a legendary hero exemplify the
values of the culture from which the legend originated?
• Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures
worldwide, including the Near East, Europe, Africa and
Asia
• The legends have normally originated from lands
having vast sea coasts
• Some cultures believe that there is an entire civilization
living under the sea as there are humans on land
• Where as some believe that they are descendants of
Gods
• Mermaids symbolize love transcending all kinds of
differences

6. In what ways do myths illustrate the belief
systems and customs of the cultures that create
them?
• In ancient Greece the people believe that mermaids would question
the sailors and on receiving the wrong answer they would stir up a
terrible storm, dooming the ship and every sailor on board
• Whereas in the British Isles, they believe that mermaids have cures
for illnesses, the secret to immortality and can reward humans with
prosperity
• Western Europe has “A Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian
Anderson; a famous story of a mermaid princess falling in love with
a prince.
• Eastern Europe believes that mermaids are ghosts of young women
who have died a violent or untimely death.
• In China they believe that pearls are formed by the tears of
mermaids.

7. Mermaids symbolize….
Love….
Beauty……………
Mystery………
Immortality…..
Riches……

8. MYTHOLOGY IS ALL AROUND US!
HAVE YOU SEEN IT?
•Venus Embrace Razors - In this commercial, Venus, or the Greek Aphrodite, is used as
the name of the brand of woman's razor. The goddess of love as the name signifies
loving your body and others loving you after you use the product. To add, the video
mentions embracing your inner goddess, and Venus is a goddess that women might
idolize for beauty.
•The Tootsie Pop Owl - The young boy in this famous commercial goes to the wise owl to
find how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. Owls are depicted as
wise in many instances because of the Roman goddess Minerva's wisdom. One of
Minerva's signs is an owl.
•Artemis Environmental Building Materials - A perfect name for a company with "green"
materials would be Artemis, because Artemis, or Diana to the Romans, is the goddess of
the hunt and wild animals. She is associated with nature, and when a company
promotes a better environment, the nature is healthier.
•Mobil Gas Station - Pegasus Logo Gasoline makes cars go, and Pegasus's wings make
him fly! Pegasus is a fast moving mythological creature, so Mobil gas stations use the
flying horse to show that if a consumer uses their gas, they will go fast and fly!
•Zeus Cafe in Louisiana This Mediterranean style restaurant in Lafayette, Louisiana takes
the Greek god Zeus as their name.

9. WHAT ARE MERMAIDS?
• A mermaid is a legendary aquatic creature with the
upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish.
• Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures
worldwide, including the Near East, Europe, Africa and
Asia.
• The first stories appeared in ancient Assyria, in which
the goddess Atargatis transformed herself into a
mermaid out of shame for accidentally killing her
human lover.
• Mermaids are sometimes associated with perilous
events such as floods, storms, shipwrecks and
drownings.

10. TEARS OF THE MERMAID WILL
ALWAYS BELIVE IN YOU

11. THANK YOU!