Task 1: Differentiating Myth, Legend, and Folklore
There is a very thin line between myths, legends, and folklore. All of these stories include certain elements that help determine the difference between them. The table below contains a list of elements that are related to these three genres. Tick the box for each element to identify if it applies to myth, legend, or folklore. Each element could apply to more than one genre.
Type your response here:
Elements
Myth
Legend
Folklore
related to people and the actions they take
set in another world
involves animals or humans having supernatural powers
based on historical events
awards good and punishes evil
stories explaining natural phenomena
origin and creation stories
stories about life, death, and life after death
set in a specific time and place, and based on actual events
set in ancient times
passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth
symbolic and usually sacred in nature
often acts as a means of entertainment and enlightenment
one-dimensional characters (that is, the characters are either good or bad)
lays foundation for a culture or a region
no specific author credit for the story
has historical figures and warriors
storyline undergoes several changes to keep up with the changing times
historical facts are twisted to encourage good and moral conduct
teaches social values
embellished with extraordinary actions taken by heroes
more about beasts and spirits and similar entities that have no verifiable existence
includes various fantasy characters such as fairies, ghosts, vampires, and so on