Myth and Legends

What is Myth?

Myth is a folklore genre consisting of
narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or originmyths. The main characters in myths are
usually non-humans, such as gods,
demigods, and other supernatural figures. However, others also include humans, animals, or combinations in their
classification of myth. Stories of everyday
human beings, although often of leaders of some type, are usually contained in
legends, as opposed to myths. Myths are
sometimes distinguished from legends
in that myths deal with gods, usually have
no historical basis, and are set in a world
of the remote past, very different from that of the present.

What is Legend?

A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions,
believed or perceived, both by teller and
listeners, to have taken place in human
history. Narratives in this genre may
demonstrate human values, and possess
certain qualities that give the tale
verisimilitude. Legend, for its active and
passive participants may include miracles. Legends may be transformed over time to
keep them fresh and vital. Many legends
operate within the realm of uncertainty,
never being entirely believed by the
participants, but also never being resolutelydoubted. Legends are sometimes
distinguished from myths in that they
concern human beings as the main characters rather than gods, and sometimes in that they have some sort of historical basis
whereas myths generally do not.

Collection of stories that has a moral lesson.