Final answer:
Oral tradition is the correct term for styles, devices, and story frameworks passed down through generations via storytelling. It is essential for maintaining cultural identity and is embodied in various cultural practices, such as the Dreamtime of Indigenous Australian peoples.
Step-by-step explanation:
The styles, devices, story framework, etc., that are passed down from generation to generation in a culture could arguably pertain to several categories, but based on the context provided, the most fitting answer is oral tradition. Oral traditions are local or indigenous religions passed down across generations through storytelling without the need for written texts. They are integral in maintaining the cultural identity of a society through stories, beliefs, values, and technical knowledge that are transmitted from one generation to another. This accumulated knowledge helps communities understand their place in the world and their relationship to it, and promotes a common cultural identity.
While myths themselves may form part of an oral tradition, mythology is more specifically the study of such myths. Folklore often includes myths, but also encompasses legends, tales, and customs that are passed down. Tradition is a broader term that encompasses practices and customs beyond stories alone. Therefore, although mythology, folklore, and tradition are closely related to oral traditions, they are not synonymous. Oral traditions have been documented in various cultures, such as the Indigenous Australian concept of Dreamtime, and they continue to play an important role in the religious and social practices of many groups.