Myths and legends

What is a myth?

• A story by moonlight.

• Stories that touch the heart.

• A traditional, ancient story that is often fictional.

• A traditional, ancient story that is often told by rainmakers and fortune tellers.

Answer explanation

A myth is a traditional, ancient story that is often fictional. Myths are often written to explain natural phenomena; they often involve gods and goddesses.

Myths are about gods and goddesses

• Yes

• No

• Maybe

• I don't know

Answer explanation

A myth is a traditional, ancient story that is often fictional. Myths are often written to explain natural phenomena; they often involve gods and goddesses.

Marvel's The Eternals is an example of a

• Myth

• Legend

• Folktale

• Bedtime story

Answer explanation

Marvel's The Eternals consists of seven characters - Ikaris, Sprite, Thena, Gilgamesh, Sersi, Ajak, Makkari, Phastos, Druig and Kingo.

Robin Hood is an example of

• Myth

• Legend

• Folktale

• Oral tradition

What was formerly used to explain natural phenomena like floods, snow, lightening etc?

• Myths

• Legends

• Tales by moonlight

• Story for the gods

Answer explanation

Myths were formerly used to explain the occurrence of natural phenomena like flooding, snow, lightening.

“Myth, a story of the gods, a religious account of the beginning of the world, the creation, fundamental events, the exemplary deeds of the gods as a result of which the world, nature and culture were created together with all parts thereof and given their order, which still obtains. A myth expresses and confirms the society’s religious values and norms; it provides a pattern of attitudes and behaviours to be imitated.”

This definition of myth was given by

• Lori Honko

• Lauri Honko

• Mallory Honko

• Lauri Hokko

Timothy R. Tangherlini defined a legend as

• a story of the gods, a religious account of the beginning of the world, the creation,

  fundamental events, the exemplary deeds of the gods as a result of which the world, nature and

  culture were created together with all parts thereof and given their order, which still obtains.

• a short, single episode, traditional narrative performed in a conversational

  manner; it reflects a symbolic representation of folk belief and collective experiences, serving as a

  reaffirmation of commonly held values of a group to whose tradition it belongs.

• A fantastic story with equally fantastic elements.

• A false story with true moral lessons

• An oral, symbolic and evolutionary and apparently simple account (in the sense of a tale, diegesis, or a series of representative actions) of an extraordinary experience or event with a transcendental and personal referent that shows social classification

Select the legends from the options below

• Orunmila

• Usman Dan Fodio

• Nnamdi Azikiwe

• Ani

• Kuri

Select the myths from the options below

• Orunmila

• Usman Dan Fodio

• Nnamdi Azikiwe

• Ani

• Kuri

Select the non-myths from the options below.

• King Arthur

• Loki

• Thor

• Robin Hood

• Faust