Can someone summarize the differences between a myth, folktale, and a legend for me?

Question

Just a short nice summary please. no more than 5 sentences

Answer 1

A myth - Not true

Folktale - Story that may or may not be true

Legend - A Story that is told over and over to generations that is believed to have been true.

Answer 2

A myth is something that explains nature(how the seasons change). A folklore or folktale is a story passed on through generations (Cinderella). A legend is a story that may or may not be true.

Answer 3

Now, some answers above were correct.  Here's a specific, anthropological take on it:

1.) Myth: holds spiritual significance/truth for the culture/belief system in question, set in a "timeless past" (in mythological studies this notion of there being a "timeless past" comes up a lot; in ritual, the line between the mundane, "profane" and timeless, mythological, "sacred" realities is bridged, although this explanation is a particular "Western" one since many cultures have no concept of sacred/profane)

2.) Folktale: it's often confused with myth, but these stories are less significant; they're still cultural expressions, but they deal less with "sacred" subjects (although stories like the Welsh Mabinogian, etc. do) and more with morality, day-to-day lessons and anecdotes, and proponents of various psychological branches support the idea that they convey truths in regards to psychological development

3.) Legends: people usually believe these to be "true," as they take place within some sort of historical framework, although it may be vague, and may in fact be based on actual events, although their telling is shaped by the collective beliefs of succeeding generations and cultures

Answer 4

Bastian has the perfect answer, everybody else is just wrong, a myth is not something that is fake or made up, it has sifnificance to the culture to which the myth belongs. A folktale is just a passed on story meant to teach something about life, its like advice with a story backing it up, a legend is some great event that is believed to have taken place and holds great importance.

Answer 5

A Myth is a traditional story told, to all outward appearances, of a people,belief, or phenomenon ~  Always untrue, not a bit factual.  A Folktale  is an anonymous, timeless, and placeless account told orally among a group/tribe of peoples.Legends  come down from the past, and the stories are historical, but not verifiable.

Answer 6

there isn't any difference.

A myth is just a folktale gone big, and a legend is even bigger. All of them may or may not have basis in fact--or experience.

Answer 7

do we look like your ela teacher..umm no

so do your own homework

Answer 8

A myth is a made up belief; a folktale is similar to a fairytale that goes back through the ages and gets passed down through generations. And a legend, is something "magnificent" like a hero etc. eg: Alexander the Great.