|
LEGEND/MYTH |
Myths are generally considered to be traditional stories whose importance
lies in their significance, like the myth of the Fall in Eden; whereas
legends can be merely famous deeds, like the legend of Davy Crockett. In
common usage “myth” usually implies fantasy. Enrico Caruso was a
legendary tenor, but Hogwarts is a mythical school. Legends may or may
not be true. But be cautious about using “myth” to mean “untrue story”
in a mythology, theology, or literature class, where teachers can be
quite touchy about insisting that the true significance of a myth lies
not in its factuality but in its meaning for the culture which produces
or adopts it.
