What Are Legends?

Legends are stories about brave heroes and the amazing deeds they performed. These stories are based on real people or events from the past.

How Do We Know a Story Is a Legend?

Here are some of the key features specific to legends.

Partially based in reality	Inspired by historical characters or events
	Greatly exaggerated over time
	Enhanced with elements of fantasy
Characters involved	Brave heroes, possibly based on real people
Characters involved	Magical creatures
Setting	A recognizable past
Setting	Real places or historical events
Teachable moments	Remind us to be brave and wise
	Often contain moral lessons
	Historical context or events
	Cultural values

Examples of elements taken from the real world in the legend of Robin Hood: Sherwood Forest in England, King Richard who ruled from 1189 to 1199 and outlaws hiding in the forest. Example of exaggerations over time: Robin Hood’s archery skills and stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Examples of real world elements in the El Dorado legend: stories of a tribe chief covering himself in gold dust for a ritual. Examples of exaggerations over time: stories of a man covered in gold became a city made of gol

Are Myths, Legends, Fables & Folktales Different?

Similarities

Often, myths, legends, fables and folktales can be mistaken for one another because of certain similarities.
Here are some examples of the key features they all share.

The deeper meaning of the Icarus myth: listening to advice and the dangers of pride. The deeper meaning of The Flying Canoe legend: keeping promises and being careful of what you wish for. The deeper meaning of The Tortoise and the Hare fable: slow and steady wins the race. The deeper meaning of the Jack and the Beanstalk folktale: taking chances and the dangers of greed.

Story structure

They all use characters and settings to tell their stories.

All their plots have a beginning, a middle and an end.

Oral tradition origins

People told these stories for a long time before they were written down.

This is why there are many variations of similar stories found all over the world

Teach and entertain

They often contain teaching moments that highlight cultural values, beliefs, historical facts or traditions.

They are engaging and very imaginative.

Differences

Here are examples of some key features that differentiate myths, legends, fables and folktales.

Myths explain how the world works, tell stories of gods and magic and take place in ancient times & imaginary worlds. Legends are partially based on something real, tell stories of brave heroes and take place in a recognizable past. Fables teach a clear moral or lesson, feature talking animal characters and take place in familiar symbolic places. Folktales tell stories of adventures and excitement, feature regular people as characters and take place “Once upon a time.”

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What Are Legends?

How Do We Know a Story Is a Legend?

Are Myths, Legends, Fables & Folktales Different?

Similarities

Differences

See Also