Myths and legends

The concept of myths and legends is not very clear to many people. A myth may refer to:

• a sacred story concerning the origins of the world or how the world and the creatures in it came to have their present form. The active beings in myths are generally gods and heroes. Myths often are said to take place before recorded history begins. In saying that a myth is a sacred narrative, what is meant is that a myth is believed to be true by people who attach religious or spiritual significance to it. Use of the term by scholars does not imply that the narrative 1 is either true or false;

• something that is widely believed but false. This popular use, which is often pejorative, arose from labeling the religious stories and beliefs of other cultures as being incorrect, but it has spread to cover non-religious beliefs as well. Because of this usage, many people take offense when the religious narratives they believe to be true are called myths.

A legend, on the other hand, is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale the appearance of being real. A legend, for its active and passive participants, includes only happenings that are within the limits of possibility, defined by a highly flexible set of parameters, which may include miracles that are perceived as actually having happened, within the specific tradition of indoctrination where the legend arises, and within which it may be transformed over time, in order to keep it fresh and vital, and realistic.

In conclusion, a legend is a story which is told as if it were a historical event, rather than as an explanation for something or a symbolic narrative. Thus, examples of legends are the stories about Robin Hood, which are set in a definite period, the reign of Richard I of England (1189-99), or about King Arthur.

¹scholars – people who study a particular subject and know a lot about it, especially a subject that is not scientific.

Internet: <en.wikipedia.org> (adapted).