Myths and Legends

A myth is...

• a fictional explanation for a natural occurrence. 
• A story which includes elements of truth with some 'mythical' features.
• a story that teaches a lesson. 
• a scientific explanation for natural events. 

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Which of these would be a mythical creature?

• A Copperhead snake
• Abraham Lincoln
• Unicorn
• The Tooth Fairy

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Which of these would be a feature of a Myth?

• Scientific facts. 
• Includes incredible or miraculous events where characters behave in superhuman ways.
• Is usually humorous and made to make people laugh. 
• Persuasive.

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A legend is...

• a recount of an event using only facts.
• a story with a moral that teaches people lessons.
• a story where animals are personified to teach the reader a lesson. 
• A story which includes elements of truth or is based on historical fact but with 'mythical' qualities.

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Which of these examples would be a character from a legend?

• Zeus
• Robin Hood
• The Cat in the Hat
• Mrs. Jackson

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Which of these is NOT a feature of a legend?

• Based on people who may have been alive at some point.
• Generally set in the past.
• Features creatures that we know are not real. 
• May have some super-natural qualities, but is generally believable.  

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Read the excerpt and determine which type of writing it is.
"Once during a great war, Ares was fighting against the Greeks, and driving them all before him. When Athena saw this, she went to their aid; for she thought that they had been right in the quarrel which had begun the war, and she did not wish to see them defeated. When Ares saw her upon the Greek side in all her armor, he rushed toward her, and threw his terrible spear against her breast. Athena caught the spear point on her shield, and turned it aside. Then she seized a great rock, and hurled it at Ares. Her aim was so sure that it struck him squarely, and knocked him flat upon his back. He was such an enormous fellow that it was said that his body covered seven acres as he lay there on the ground. Ares was so injured by the blow, that he gave up the fight, and fled to Mount Olympus. Then the Greeks, with the help of Athena, won the victory."

• Myth
• Legend

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Read the excerpt and determine which type of writing it is.
"He was especially the herald of Zeus. The Greeks thought that their dreams came from Zeus himself, and that is was Hermes who brought them, flying swiftly downward through the darkness of the night. But besides this, Hermes served as messenger for all the gods, even for Hades in the under-world. When people died, the Greeks thought that it was Hermes who guided their shades to their dark home underneath the ground."

• Myth
• Legend

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Read the excerpt and determine which type of writing it is. 
"We will stay right here!" Lech told them. Thus, Lech became the first Duke of Poland and he assumed leadership of the Western Slays. So, the people began to build a town there on the hill, and Lech chose the white eagle with its wings spread wide as their emblem. They called their town Gniezno, which means "A Nest" in the Slavic language. The town became the capital of their nation. As time went on, their country became known as Poland."

• Myth
• Legend

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Read the excerpt and determine which type of writing it is. 
"As Merlin feared, when King Uther died there was great conflict over who should be the next king. Merlin used his magic to set a sword in a stone. Written on the sword, in letters of gold,  were these words: "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone is the rightwise born king of all England." Of course all the contenders for the throne took their turn at trying to draw the sword, but none could succeed. Arthur, quite by chance, withdrew the sword for another to use in a tournament. Following this he became King."

• Myth
• Legend

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CCSS.RL.8.9