Legend and myth

Definition, characteristics, structure and examples of a Myth and a Legend

1. Literature1

2. LEGEND
Whatisa Legend?
◦Itisa semi-true story, whichhas been
passedonfrompersonto personand has
animportantmeaningorsymbolismforthe
culture in whichitoriginates.
◦Itcomes fromthelatinlegendaorlégere,
whihmeans“to read”.
◦A legendusuallyincludesanelementof
truthorisbasedonhistoricfacts, butwith
“mythicalqualities”

3. Characteristics:
◦Set in the present or recent past.
◦Are supposedlytrue, and usedto scare,
teach, inform, orentertain.
◦May be based on true events, but are
changed or exaggeratedovertime.
◦Handeddownfromgenerationto
generation, usual throughanoral history.
◦Explainwhya natural occurrenceoccurs

4. Origins:
◦All over the world there are extraordinary stories—stories that once upon a time were
believed to be true but are today limited to the sphere of ancient myths and legends.
◦Theword“legend” wasfirstusedduringtheMedieval, and itwasappliedto thelifesof
thesaints, Jesuschristand TheVirginMaria. Throughthesestoriesthechurchwantedto
teachgoodbehavior, virtues, miraclesand fantasticpunishmentsof thesaints.
◦Later, thestoriesweretoldbythejugglarsin squaresand gardens. Storiesaboutreal
heroes(King Rodrigo, Cid Campeador, King Arthur) wereattributedwithunreralistic
featuresto exaltthepowerof thenobiltyovertherestof themortals.
◦DuringtheColony, in Mexico, charactersare commonpeoplethatare involvedin
unrealisiceventsin orderto punishorrewardthemfortheirbehavior.
◦Literarylegendwasbornin theXIX Century duringtheRomanticism.
◦Legendistheantecedentof theShort story.

5. Structure:
•Whatisthestoryabout?
•Blendsreal factsand fantasticfacts.Plot
•Wherewasitcreated?
•Italwayshas a popular origin. Origin
•Whatbehaviorsdo thecharactersrepresent?
•Theyare commonpeoplebutin thestorythey
aquiresupernatural characteristics.
Characters
•Extradiegeticorexternal(thirdperson)Narrator
•Whereand whendo theeventshappened?
•Time, place and society.Time/Setting

6. Example: Sasquatch (bigfoot)
◦Did you know that the Sasquatch
wasbelievedto live in the forests
of Washington state?

7. Example: Johnny Appleseed

8. Example: King Arthur and the Knights
of the Round Table
◦Possiblybasedonanactual
person, orevenseveral
people, in ancientBritain.
◦Storiesweretold, retold,
exaggerated, changed, and
addedto overhundredsof
years.
◦Usedto teachmoral lessons
aboutchivalry.

9. MYTH
Whatisa Myth?
◦Itisis a legendary or a traditional story that usually
concerns an event or a hero, with or without using
factual or real explanations. Through these stories,
ancient cultures try to explain the origin of life, the
world, the human being, a place or natural
phenomenons.
◦These particularly concern demigods or deities, and
describes some rites, practices, and natural
phenomenon.
◦Typically, a myth involves historical events and
supernatural beings.

10. Characteristics:
◦A traditionalorlegendary
story, usuallyconcerning
some hero or event, that
people believe is true at the
time.
◦Usuallycontainsnonhuman
◦Characters(gods, demons,
demigods)
◦Explainssomepractice, rite,
phenomenon, or why
something is the wayitis.

11. Origin:
◦Mythshavebeencreatedin everyculture
aroundtheworld. Theywerethefirst
response to thehuman curiosityabout
natural phenomenaand theoriginof life.
Theseunexplainedforceswererepresented
bythegods.
◦Ancientcultures liketheEgyptian,
Mesopotamian, Hebrew, Chinese, Indi,
Mayan, Aztec, are richin myths.
◦Greekmythsare thebestknownin the
wholeworld. Mostof greekmyhtologyis
gatheredin TheTheogony(Workand days),
writtenbyHesiod.
◦Rome inheritedusmythstoo, createdbya
stronggreekcultural influence. These
traditionswerepassedto othercultures as
well.
◦Romanmythologydecreasedwhen
EmperorTheodosiusformalizedchristianism
in 380 B.C.

12. Typesof Myths:
1.Cosmogonic: Try to explaintheoriginof theworld. (Caos –
Greek)
2.Theogonic:Telltheoriginof thegods. (Huitzilopochtli –Aztec)
3.Anthropogonic:Itisabouttheoriginof thehuman being.
(Adam and Eve–Hebrew)
4.Etiological:Try to explaintheoriginof anelementof Nature.
(Prometeusand thefire–Greek)
5.Scatological:Itisaboutthehuman fateafterdeath. (dogs
helpsoulsto crosstheriver–Aztec)
6.Moral:A battlebetweengoodand evil, oppositemoral
principles. (Perseusand Medusa –Greek)

13. Structure:
Plot
•Whatisthe
storyabout?
Narrator
•Extradiegetic
Characters
•Whoare the
protagonist
and the
antagonist?
•Hero, godor
human?
Time/Setting
•Real o
fantastic
place
•Ancientor
actual time

14. Example:
Pandora’sBox
How evil came into the
world

15. Example:
Persephone &
Demeter
Why winter comes
each year

16. Example: Orpheus
Lossisinevitable.
Myths do not
need to have
happyendings. In
fact, most of
them end very,
verybadly.