Myths & Legends

What is a Legend?Set in the present or

recent past.

Are supposedly true, and used to scare, teach, inform, or entertain.

May be based on true events, but are changed or

exaggerated over time.

Handed down from generation to generation,

usual through an oral history.

Explain why a natural occurrence occurs

Possibly based on an actual person, or even several people, in ancient Britain.

Stories were told, retold, exaggerated, changed, and added to over hundreds of years.

Used to teach moral lessons about chivalry

Example: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

What is a Myth?

A traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some hero or event, that people believe is true at

the time.

Usually contains non-human characters (gods,

demons, demigods)

Explains some practice, rite, phenomenon, or why something is the way it is.

Example: Pandora’s Box

Example: Persephone & Demeter

Example: Orpheus

Myths do not need to have happy endings.

In fact, most of them end very, very badly.