Knowledge Articles

What are Legends and Folktale?

As in many legends, it is hard to know what is real and not valid. There is no writing left from that time that tells what happened. The monk said he wrote the story nearly 150 years later, in the 13th century. This means there are no records or proof of what happened at that time. Some legends may have started as 'true' stories, but as people said and retold them, they may have changed some parts, so they are less 'true.' They may have changed them to make them more interesting. I know about them from older people telling them to younger people.

All stories have been passed down, retold, translated, and, more recently, written down because everyone loves a good story. As in many legends, the story may have changed over time to take on some special mythical features. Myths are essential to those of us who wish to study a particular time in history or a specific culture because they often tell us a great deal about the beliefs and lifestyles of the people. A legend is usually based on an actual event in the past.

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