1.5: Myth, Legend and Folklore

Introductions to mythology texts commonly start with the etymology of “myth” to provide a foundational understanding. Myth, in the Classical sense, can be defined as “story,” “word,” “speech,” or “utterance,” which, while interesting, doesn’t provide a differentiation between a myth and a legend, or a saga, or folklore.

Commonly, myths involve stories or epics that feature gods and goddesses, supernatural beings that control the cosmos, the elements, and more precisely the impact such agencies have upon humans. The myths that persist in the human literary canon tend to be instructional, providing lessons either for day-to-day survival, or to justify rites and communal practices, or to explain natural processes or phenomena. Hesiod’s Theogony and Works and Days both reflect this definition, as they illustrate the creation of the earth through the separation of Sky (Ouranos) and Earth (Gaea), and the birth of their children who would later give birth to the Olympians and Titans, who will later master and manipulate the natural elements.

Legends and sagas, which may include gods and goddesses though often not in featured roles, are rooted in historical fact. They tend to weave in creative expression of those events, making them more entertaining and engaging, but they have some element of factual truth at the core of the story. Homer's epic the Iliad fits into this category as the action is (likely) based on the destruction of Troy VII-A. Yes, the gods and goddesses command a significant portion of the plot and their conduct seems to influence the events, but the spotlight remains fixed upon the mortal tragedy and their inevitably doomed efforts.

Folklore, as the word implies, finds roots in oral tales of the common folk, or peasants. Often featuring comforting formulaic language, such as “once upon a time,” and “they lived happily ever after,” folktales, or fairy tales, are also comprised of familiar motifs. These motifs might include an abused, abandoned or orphaned child, a malevolent step parent, a protective adult (such as a fairy godmother or woodsman), magical objects, or rules that must be adhered to or consequences will follow. Supernatural beings may be featured, such as faerie, elves, gnomes, spirits, ghosts, witches or animistic creatures, and their interactions with mortals often impart morals or warnings. Such tales often feature magic or wish fulfillment as themes, and clear, if not simplistic, demarcations between the “good” and the “evil” characters. Many view these tales as little more than entertainment, but they often contain important socio-cultural cues and are used to instruct children into the norms of their culture. Psychologist Bruno Bettleheim, in his work The Uses of Enchantment, argued that folkloric tales were embedded with significant psychological lessons, which, while not apparent to children who hear the stories, still provides them with valuable tools for addressing complex issues such as sibling rivalry, abandonment, and sexual maturation.