ABSTRACT
Literature, especially in its narrative form, is the offspring of two folklore genres, the tale and the heroic epic. Over the centuries, many tales and monumental epics have either continued to evolve as inde pendent forms or have reemerged under the guise of literary works, yet popular rituals, festivals, and religious mysteries have ensured that the drama and, in part, the lyric were initially exposed to and incorporated mythical elements.
