Margarita Vargas-Betancourt
THE STORY OF TEPOZTECO: A LEGEND AND A MYTH
Lesson Plan
I. WARM UP:
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
In one minute write as many traits of the landscape of your community as you can:
mountains, rivers, swamps, beaches, prairies, mounds, bayous, etc.
Now, write the names of really famous persons in your community (real or fictional, dead
or alive) in your community.
II. THEORETICAL APPROACH
Myth


A myth is a sacred or religious story that narrates the origins or the creation of the
natural, supernatural or cultural phenomena of one community. Myths are usually
transmitted orally, from one generation to the next.
Myths narrate the stories of gods or superhuman beings that perform extraordinary
actions in extraordinary circumstances. These stories took place before human time.
Creation myth
 Creation myths constitute one of the most popular types of myths. They explain the
beginning of things. In other words, they narrate how the world originated. Since myths
embody the way in which a specific community understands reality, they express the
basic values of this community. For instance, they explain man’s place in the universe,
and how man should relate to other humans, nature, and even things.
 Creation myths are constituted by a system of symbols, and they follow a structure.
However, this structure is not rational. Myths follow their own kind of order.
 Creation myths usually lead to rituals. In fact, ritual is often the dramatic presentation of t
myth. By reenacting the myth, a community attempts to re-create the beginning of the
world, and in this way, to preserve it.
 Myth situates man in a specific landscape.
 Through myths, communities define their cultural life.
 There are as many creation myths as there are human cultures.
Legend
 A story or group of stories about a particular person or place. They are handed down
through popular oral tradition.
 The protagonists of legends are historical or possibly historical characters, such as a
saint, monarch, or popular hero.
 The main differences between legends and myths is that:
1. The protagonists of myths are gods, whereas the protagonists of legends are human
beings.
2. Myths do not have a historical basis, whereas legends can have some sort of
historical background.
 The most modern legendary heroes are media figures, such as movie stars and rock
musicians.
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III. AN EXAMPLE: THE TEPOZTECO STORY
Use the power point presentation to introduce the setting and the community to which this
legend belongs. The following is a chart (included in the power point presentation) that
outlines the story.
I. Tepozteco was conceived in an immaculate manner.
II. Someone attempted to kill the baby.
III. The baby was adopted.
IV. Tepozteco became a marvelous hunter.
V. Tepozteco decided to confront Xochicalcatl.
VI. During his peregrination, he transformed and named the landscape.
VII. He picked up flints.
VIII. He arrived to Xochicalco.
IX. Tepozteco defeated Xochicalcatl.
X. He went to Cuernavaca and stole the teponaxtli.
XI. Tepozteco fled to Tepoztlan.
XII. He arrived to the Ehecatepetl Mountain and defeated the people from Cuernavaca.
XIII. Tepozteco became the ruler or king of Tepoztlan.
XIV. He raised the bells of Mexico City’s cathedral.
IV. PRESENTATION OF THE VIDEO “A DEFENDER OF HIS PEOPLE”
Discussion questions:
1. According to the film, what is the story of the Tepozteco?
2. What is the relationship between this story and the ancient history of Tepoztlan?
For example, what might have originated the idea of the Xochicalcatl monster?
3. Why is the story of the Tepozteco important for the community today?
As you watch the video, formulate more questions:
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V. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TEPOZTECO STORY AND TEPOZTLAN’S HISTORY
Explain in a very general way what might be the historical background for the legend.
EPISODE
I
TEPOZTECO LEGEND
Tepozteco was conceived in
an immaculate manner.
II
Someone attempted to kill the
baby.
The baby was adopted.
Tepozteco
became
a
marvelous hunter.
Tepozteco decided to confront
Xochicalcatl.
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
During his peregrination, he
transformed and named the
landscape.
He picked up flints.
Once he arrived to
Xochicalco, he began to
transform himself into different
animals.
Tepozteco defeated
Xochicalcatl.
He went to Cuernavaca and
stole the teponaxtli.
XI
Tepozteco fled to Tepoztlan.
XII
He arrived to the Ehecatepetl
Mountain and defeated the
people from Cuernavaca with
wind and water.
Tepozteco became the ruler
or king of Tepoztlan.
He raised the bells of Mexico
City’s cathedral.
XIII
XIV
HISTORICAL FACT
Interdynastic marriage
Importance of the
Morelos region to the
Mexicas.
Commemoration of
Chichimec past.
Rise of Xochicalco as an
hegemonic center in the
Classic period.
Tributary obligations
from the Morelos region
to the Triple Alliance.
Migration of the
Chichimecs to central
Mexico.
GEOLOGICAL FACT
Formation of the rocky
hills, cave paintings.
Confrontation between
the two main ethnic
groups in Morelos:
Xochimilcas and
Tlahuicas.
Creation of Cuernavaca
ravines due to water.
Water and wind eroded
the volcanic ridges that
make up the
Chichinautzin ridge.
Tributary labor provided
during the colony.
VI. TALK ABOUT LEGENDS AND MYTHS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
Take out the list of landscape traits and famous characters that your students produced
during “Warm Up.” Go over the list and ask for myths or legends related to these
elements. Discuss if there is a historical or geological background for these stories.
Then, discuss whether these stories are still useful for the community today. If this is so,
discuss how and why.
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REFERENCES
" creation myth ." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 27 Mar.
2007 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-33934>.
"legend" The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Christopher Baldick. Oxford University
Press, 1996. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Tulane University. 27 March
2007 <http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t56.e541>
"myth" A Dictionary of Sociology. John Scott and Gordon Marshall. Oxford University Press
2005. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Tulane University. 27 March
2007 http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t88.e1509
"myth." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 27 Mar. 2007
<http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9108748>.
Lane, Pacho, A Defender of His People. The Legend of El Tepozteco. (Video) Ethnoscope Film
and Video. http://www.docfilm.com