This document discusses the differences between myths and legends. Myths are traditional stories that people believed to be true at the time, usually involving non-human characters like gods or demons. Myths aim to explain natural phenomena or cultural practices. Legends are set in the more recent past and involve human characters. While possibly based on real events, legends become exaggerated over time and are used to scare, teach, or entertain. Both myths and legends are passed down orally from generation to generation. The document provides examples of myths like Pandora's Box and legends like Johnny Appleseed to illustrate the definitions.

1. Writing Myths
& Legends
Jeremy Thompson
Intermediate Language Arts

2. 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

3. Example: Sasquatch (bigfoot)
Did you know that the
Sasquatch was believed to
live in the forests of
Washington state?

4. Example: Johnny Appleseed
Legend Fact

5. Example: King Arthur and the
Knights of the Round Table
Possibly based on an
actual person, or even
several people, in
ancient Britain.
Stories were
told, retold, exaggerate
d, changed, and added
to over hundreds of
years.
Used to teach moral
lessons about chivalry.

6. 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.

7. Example: Pandora’s Box
How evil came into the world

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

9. Example: Orpheus
Myths do not need to have
happy endings.
In fact, most of them end
very, very badly.
Loss is inevitable

10. Writing your Myth or Legend
Choose something Choose a character. Complete a story
from the class map Myth = non-human map/planning
that your myth or sheet.
legend will explain. Legend = human
The solution of your
story should explain
Begin writing. how the item from the
map you chose came to
be.

11. Myth Legend
Your character
Your character
(non-human)
(human) should
should have
have realistic
supernatural
human qualities.
powers.
Your Myth Your Legend
should explain should explain
how or why something, or
something in this teach some kind
world exists. of moral lesson.