Question

What is one major difference between legends and myths?

Answer 1

The major difference between legends and myths is that legends often contain historical truths and focus on human-sized figures, while myths center on explaining natural phenomena, origins, and cosmic events through symbolism involving gods and supernatural beings.

Step-by-step explanation:

Major Difference Between Legends and Myths

One major difference between legends and myths lies in their truth claims and relationship with history. A legend is typically a narrative about historical figures or events that may contain factual elements but is often exaggerated or embellished over time. Legends are somewhat grounded in reality, but they include supernatural or fantastic aspects that make their complete verification challenging. On the other hand, a myth is a traditional story that is deeply rooted in a culture's belief system and used to explain natural phenomena, the origins of humanity, and other cosmic occurrences. Myths are not concerned with historical accuracy; instead, they convey moral, spiritual or existential truths through symbolism and allegory. Moreover, myths often involve gods, deities, and heroes performing actions with profound implications for a culture's worldview and values, whereas legends often speak about more relatable, human-sized figures.

Answer 2

The key difference between legends and myths is that legends have a basis in historical fact and are more realistic, while myths are supernatural stories that explain existential questions.

Step-by-step explanation:

One major difference between legends and myths is that legends are typically grounded in some historical fact, featuring heroes or events that may have actually existed or occurred, albeit often embellished over time. Myths, on the other hand, are a form of folklore that serve to explain natural phenomena, religious practices, or cultural beliefs, and involve deities or supernatural occurrences. While both are traditional stories passed down through generations, myths typically operate outside the realm of history and are centered on the supernatural and the sacred, often with the purpose of explaining universal and existential questions.