Myths and Legends

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HelloCould somebody clarify the difference between a Myth and a Legend? Specifically, is the ancient Greek tale about the Minataur a Myth or a Legend?Many ThanksJeff

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[nq:1]Hello Could somebody clarify the difference between a Myth and a Legend? Specifically, is the ancient Greek tale about the Minataur a Myth or a Legend? Many Thanks Jeff[/nq]
A legend is written down; a myth is (originally) transferred by mouth only.

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[nq:1]Hello Could somebody clarify the difference between a Myth and a Legend? Specifically, is the ancient Greek tale about the Minataur a Myth or a Legend? Many Thanks Jeff[/nq]
In general legends are about the derring do of human beings in the human sphere - they are exaggerated history. Myths may be about the derring do of human beings but are primarily religious, supernatural or fantastical tales. However, there are many stories which seem to sit squarely across the distinction, and Theseus and the Minotaur is one of them. If I was absolutely forced to make a choice, I'd probably say it was legendary, with the Minotaur a freakish version of an actual creature (cf. Goliath), rather than mythological. But the distinction is a very fine one!

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[nq:2]Hello Could somebody clarify the difference between a Myth and ... the Minataur a Myth or a Legend? Many Thanks Jeff[/nq]
[nq:1]A legend is written down; a myth is (originally) transferred by mouth only.[/nq]
Do you want time to have another think about that?

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[nq:2]A legend is written down; a myth is (originally) transferred by mouth only.[/nq]
[nq:1]Do you want time to have another think about that?[/nq]
In classical Greek, "mythos" signified any story or plot, whether true or invented. In its central modern significance, however, a myth is one story in a mythology- a system of hereditary stories of ancient origin which were once believed to be true by a particular cultural group, and which serve to explain why the world is as it is and things happen as they do, to provide a rationale for social customs and observances, and to establish the sanctions for the rules by which people conduct their lives. Most myths are related to social rituals- set forms and procedures in sacred ceremonies- but anthropologists disagree as to whether rituals generated myths or myths generated rituals. If the protagonist is a human being rather than a supernatural being, the traditional story is usually not called a myth but a legend.
I hope it helps.
Regards!
Arash Golzari

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Many Thanks for the replies.
Jeff

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[nq:1]Hello Could somebody clarify the difference between a Myth and a Legend? Specifically, is the ancient Greek tale about the Minataur a Myth or a Legend?[/nq]
A legend is like a biopic: a dramatization of the lives of real people, like King Arthur, El Cid, or people who might have lived or should have lived, like Robin Hood, Hamlet and the like. Those dramatizations contain real, historic facts, like some of the events described in "The General in his Labyrinth" by GG Marquez; or facts that might have happened; or facts that should've happened. When the facts that should have happened escalate to parting of the Red Sea or other such supernatural plot adjusters, then we leave the realm of legend and enter the realm of mythology. Any supernatural event or characters like the Niebelungen, Beowulf, Till Eulenspiegel, the Golem etc renders the legend a myth.
The line between legend and myth is clear enough, except in those cases when some events (or people) described as supernatural are meant to be metaphors of real events/people; e.g. parting of the Red Sea was a timely tsunami, the satyr was a supersexed macho womanizer, etc

There is a much finer line between a legend and a docudrama.

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[nq:2]Hello Could somebody clarify the difference between a Myth and ... Greek tale about the Minataur a Myth or a Legend?[/nq]
[nq:1]A legend is like a biopic: a dramatization of the lives of real people, like King Arthur, El Cid, or ... the satyr was a supersexed macho womanizer, etc There is a much finer line between a legend and a docudrama.[/nq]
I think of a legend as a real event that has been exaggerated over time and had aspects added to it in the retellings. I think of a myth as an event that never happened, but has been described as if it had.

The story of Casey Jones is a legend. The story of Paul Bunyan is a myth.

Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Hello Could somebody clarify the difference between a Myth and ... Greek tale about the Minataur a Myth or a Legend?[/nq]
[nq:1]A legend is like a biopic: a dramatization of the lives of real people, like King Arthur, El Cid, or people who might have lived or should have lived, like Robin Hood, Hamlet and the like. Those dramatizations contain real, historic facts,[/nq]
(snip)
The story of the uncle who kills the father, weds the mother, and is slain by the son is a recurrent myth. King Arthur was mythic, and the tales contain many magical elements. Many consider Robin Hood to be mythical.
[nq:1]The line between legend and myth is clear enough, except in those cases when some events (or people) described as ... real events/people; e.g. parting of the Red Sea was a timely tsunami, the satyr was a supersexed macho womanizer, etc[/nq]
Are you asserting that the parting of the Red Sea really took place and was in fact a tsunami?
One person's religion is another person's myth.

John Varela
Trade NEW lamps for OLD for email.

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[nq:2]A legend is like a biopic: a dramatization of the ... Hamlet and the like. Those dramatizations contain real, historic facts,[/nq]
[nq:1](snip) The story of the uncle who kills the father, weds the mother, and is slain by the son is a recurrent myth.[/nq]
Wiki calls it a legend:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet %28legend%29
[nq:1]King Arthur was mythic, and the tales contain many magical elements.[/nq]
Then I was wrong, the demarcation between myth and legend is not that clear.
[nq:1]Many consider Robin Hood to be mythical.[/nq]
What a disappointment! But he looked so real.
Don't tell me that Richard Green was also a legend.
[nq:2]The line between legend and myth is clear enough, except ... timely tsunami, the satyr was a supersexed macho womanizer, etc[/nq]
[nq:1]Are you asserting that the parting of the Red Sea really took place and was in fact a tsunami?[/nq]
No, I wasn't scratching my brains long enough for a better example. Nostradamus' fans can come up with better examples.
[nq:1]One person's religion is another person's myth.[/nq]
Here is a good one for you: what is the difference between religion and myth? Can you make an assessment that is not insulting to either side of the fence?

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[nq:2]A legend is like a biopic: a dramatization of the ... a much finer line between a legend and a docudrama.[/nq]
[nq:1]I think of a legend as a real event that has been exaggerated over time and had aspects added to it in the retellings. I think of a myth as an event that never happened, but has been described as if it had.[/nq]
IMO you equate myth with fiction and legend with bad docudrama.

How would you categorize "In Cold Blood" of Truman Capote?

I believe it's fiction, no matter how much research went into that book and how accurately certain events were described.

Myths and Legends

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