The terms myth , folklore , legend , and fairy tale are often used interchangeably, leading to the misconception that they mean the same thing: fanciful tales. Although it's true that these terms may refer to bodies of writing that answer some of life's basic questions or present commentary on morality, each type presents a distinct reader experience.
They've all stood the test of time, which speaks volumes about their ongoing hold on our imaginations. A myth is a traditional story that may answer life's overarching questions, such as the origins of the world the creation myth or of a people. A myth can also be an attempt to explain mysteries, supernatural events, and cultural traditions.
Sometimes sacred in nature, a myth can involve gods or other creatures. It presents reality in dramatic ways. Many cultures have their own versions of common myths that contain archetypal images and themes. One common myth that spans multiple cultures is that of a great flood. Myth criticism is used to analyze these threads in literature. A prominent name in myth criticism is that of the literary critic, professor, and editor Northrop Frye.
Whereas myth has at its core the origins of a people and is often sacred, folklore is a collection of fictional tales about people or animals. Superstitions and unfounded beliefs are important elements in the folklore tradition. Both myths and folklore were originally circulated orally. Folktales describe how the main character copes with the events of everyday life, and the tale may involve crisis or conflict. These stories may teach people how to cope with life or dying and also have themes common among cultures worldwide.
The study of folklore is called folkloristics. A legend is a story that's purported to be historical in nature but that is without substantiation. Where evidence of historical figures, such as King Richard , actually exists, figures such as King Arthur are legends due in large part to the many stories that have been created about them. However, it has to be stated that people from different cultures have their myths. These assist people to explain and comprehend the origin, history, and natural phenomenon of the world.
Folktale: Folktales refer to stories that have been passed down from ancestors of a particular group of people to the younger generations. Myth: A myth is a traditional story of early history or explaining a natural event, especially involving supernatural beings.
Folktale: A folktale does not provide an explanation for natural events and such. Myth: A myth provides an explanation for natural events or the origin of human beings. Myth: In myths, it is gods and goddesses, even though human beings can also appear in the story.
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Your email address will not be published. Snow White. The Return of Perspephone. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. It often consists of characters such as gods, deities, demi-gods, supernatural creatures and even humans and animals.
Therefore, myths have a certain religious value to them, that highlight a set of religious beliefs and practices. Figure 1: Greek Myth — Icarus. Although what a myth relates is not an entirely real occurrence or happening, some myths may be influenced by real accounts, and these have been remade to become more symbolic with time or different locations.
A folktale is a part of folklore. These are thus passed on from one generation to the next. Folktales consist of stories usually created to entertain the audience and also sometimes to teach them a certain lesson about their behaviours and social ethics.
Figure 2: A Bengali Folktale. Therefore, different cultures have their own unique and varied folktales. Moreover, unlike myths, which are associated with religious rituals and beliefs, folktales are more secular in quality.
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