Myths and legends

A myth is a story from a long time ago that explains the tradions and beliefs of the different civilisations.

What is a myth? Choose the option that better summarises the defintion of a myth.

• A myth is a story that someone invented and they wrote it in books.

• A myth is a story about the traditions and the food of a country.

• A myth is a story that explains the beliefs of a nation.

• A myth is a legend about Gods.

Some myths try to explain how the universe or natural world was created. These are called ‘creation myths’ or ‘nature myths’.

What sentence is correct? (Choose two options)

• Some myths explain the landscape of the world.

• Some myths explain how the universe was created.

• Some myths explain what is it like to be part of a nation.

• Some myths explain how the natural world was created.

In Greek, the word ‘mythos’ means ‘story’. There are myths from every culture in the world, but the best-known ones are from Ancient Greece, Rome or from the Norse people of Northern Europe.

The best-known myths are those from... (choose two options)

• the Greeks and the Rumanian.

• the Greeks and the Spanish.

• the Greeks and the Romans.

• the people from the North of Europe.

Myths usually have heroes or heroines who are gods or people with amazing strength or super powers. The hero or heroine often has to go on a journey to outwit or do battle with a frightening beast or monster.

Myths are usually about...

• Heroes and heroines that live a happy life and they suddenly lose their parents.

• Heroes and heroines that have a challenge to solve, normally defeating monsters.

• Hores and heroines that have bad parents and have to finish them.

• Heroes and heroines that play video games where they go on a journey to outwit a battle.

Legends are old stories, which have a little bit of truth in them. They might be based on a real event, place, person or a true fact from long ago, which got exaggerated over the years.

Legends are... (choose two options)

• ... stories about Gods.

• ... stories that might be based on a real fact.

• ... stories that got exaggerated over the years.

• ... stories that are written in a very old book about traditions.

Some legends are famous all over the world – like the legends of King Arthur – but some are only well known in the local towns or counties they came from.

A very well-known legend is...

• King Albert.

• King Adrian.

• King Arthur

• King Alexander.

The heroes and heroines in legends aren’t gods, but they are courageous, strong or clever. Sometimes all three!

The heroes and heroines in legends aren't...

• courageous

• strong

• clever

• gods and goddesses

There are often magical people or beasts in legends, such as wizards, witches, fairies, giants, mermaids, dragons or knights – these can be bad or good.

In legends we can find... (choose 2)

• Gods

• Dragons

• Fairies

• Goddesses

A dragon is...

• A large, fire-breathing scaly lizard, often with wings

• A large, fire-breathing scaly frog, often with wings

• A large, fire-breathing scaly lizard, often without wings

• A large, water-breathing scaly lizard, often with wings

A mermaid is...

• Half-woman, half-dolphin

• Half-woman, half-shark

• Half-woman, half-fish

• Half-woman, half-dog