Legend There are marked differences between a
legend and a myth. While legends are made
Legend is a genre of folklore that consists up stories, myths are stories that answer
of a narrative featuring human actions questions about the working of natural
perceived or believed both by teller and phenomenon. Myths are set in olden times,
listeners to have taken place within human even in pre-historic times. However, legends
history. Narratives in this genre may are stories about people and their actions, or
demonstrate human values, and possess deeds they perform to save their people or
certain qualities that give the nations.
tale verisimilitude. Legend, for its active and
The people mentioned in legends might have
passive participants, includes no happenings
lived in recent times, or sometime in known
that are outside the realm of "possibility," but
history. Legends are told to serve a specific
may include miracles. Legends may be
purpose, and can be based on facts – but
transformed over time, in order to keep them
they are not completely true. People
fresh, vital, and realistic. Many legends
mentioned in a legend might not have really
operate within the realm of uncertainty, never
done what the story of the legend relates. In
being entirely believed by the participants,
some cases, legends change the historical
but also never being resolutely doubted.
events.
Function of Legend
In literature, the function of a legend is to
Difference between a Legend and a present the story of human actions in such a
Myth way that they are perceived by
the audience to be true. Actions are are stories about people and their actions, or
presented as if they have taken place within deeds they perform to save their people or
human history. For its audiences, a legend has nations.
to include happenings that are not outside the The people mentioned in legends might have
realm of possibility, but it may include miracles. lived in recent times, or sometime in known
Change has certainly occurred in legends history. Legends are told to serve a specific
over time, giving them freshness, vitality, and a purpose, and can be based on facts – but
realistic taste. On the contrary, a large number they are not completely true. People
of legends function in the realm of mentioned in a legend might not have really
uncertainty; neither believed, nor doubted by done what the story of the legend relates. In
the audiences. some cases, legends change the historical
events.
Folk Narratives
Difference between a Legend and a
Myth These refers to stories passed on by word of
mouth rather than writing, and thus partly
There are marked differences between a
modified by successive re-tellings before being
legend and a myth. While legends are made
written down or recorded
up stories, myths are stories that answer
questions about the working of natural
phenomenon. Myths are set in olden times,
even in pre-historic times. However, legends Types of Folk Narratives:
Myth is a legendary or a traditional story that
Legend usually concerns an event or a hero, with or
without using factual or real explanations.
Legend, traditional story or group of stories These particularly concern demigods or
told about a particular person or place. deities, and describe some rites, practices,
Formerly the term legend meant a tale about and natural phenomenon. Typically, a myth
a saint. Legends resemble folktales in content; involves historical events and supernatural
they may include supernatural beings, beings. There are many types of myths, such
elements of mythology, or explanations of as classic myths, religious myths, and modern
natural phenomena, but they are associated myths.
with a particular locality or person and are
told as a matter of history.
Folktales
Folk epic Folktales also stem from an oral tradition,
passed down by the 'folk' who told them. The
term 'folktale' is often used interchangeably
The definition of a folk epic is a long poem
with fable, since folktales can have a lesson at
about a traditional or historical hero. An
the end. Folktales are different from fables
example of a folk epic is Beowulf, a poem that
because they feature people as their main
describes the traditions of a nation. Your
characters, but often with a twist. For
Dictionary definition and usage example
example, stories like 'Paul Bunyan and Babe
the Blue Ox' and the American cowboy Pecos
Bill lassoing a tornado, show people and
animals perform amazing feats of strength.
Myth Just as there are folk in every country, every
country has its own folktales. Sometimes,
countries as far apart as China and France
can have very similar traditional tales. The story
of 'Stone Soup', for example, is one told all
over the world.
