There are over a hundred different world mythologies that we know of today. There is a fine line that draws the difference between folk tales and myths. The summer before 5th grade, I happily enrolled in a Greek mythology summer school class. Comparative mythology has served a variety of academic purposes. Origin Myths & Archetypes Stories of how events, actions, or objects came to exist, featuring common archetypes found universally in myths from around the world. Folktales are a direct expression of a culture's values and behavioral expectations. A legend is a heroic tale and is often told as a historical event. Below we explain in more detail what the myth is and what the legend. Johnny Appleseed, Bigfoot, and Paul Bunion are examples of still popular folktales. Anyone with the knowledge of more than one of these world mythologies would realize that there are some glaring similarities between them. Fables, Folktales, Myths and Legends. Myths, derived from the Greek word ‘mythos’ meaning “thought, story, or speech”, are stories or tales that have been rooted in religion or folk beliefs of that time. The legend and the myth have, however, certain similarities: both have passed from generation to generation through oral or written transmission, both are stories that seek to explain an event or phenomenon that is enigmatic or mysterious. Myths are a direct expression of a culture's religious beliefs. The difference between mythology and folklore can be quite subtle, and the terms are often used interchangeably by both laypeople and established scholars. Comparative mythology is the comparison of myths from different cultures in an attempt to identify shared themes and characteristics. Myths give a religious explanation for something. There are stories about gods (ngā atua), mythical creatures, nature, warfare and astronomy to name a few. Myth and Legend. First things first, we’ve got a bit of a hierarchical/taxonomic distinction to make here. On top of this, the confusion worsens as many similar genres come in-between them like legends … 14. Myths attempt to explain the beginning of the world, natural phenomena, the relationships between the gods and humans, and the origins of civilization. Myths vs Folk Tales. What are the similarities and differences between epic tales and myths? Here are 11 tales that will introduce you to this rich cultural tradition. Similarly, folk tales and myths are two different types of stories that are often used interchangeably due to their similar nature. 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