The Way Legends Grow

MYTHS, traditions and legends are terms used for folk-tales, that is tales which have been handed down from one generation to another for a great many years, usually by word of mouth in the early stages of their development. These terms, however, do indicate differing types of stories. Myths are principally concerned with the account or explanation of events of cosmic significance and are mainly tales of gods, or of heroes with supernatural gifts. Traditions are memories of persons or events, often transmitted orally, and fall into two categories. The first is that type of tradition which in any society perpetuates habits of behaviour, social or religious rites, ethical standards and beliefs. Particularly in a primitive society, this type of tradition shapes its customs and its judgements. The other type of tradition is a kind of folk-memory which is kept alive by those who have an interest in the recollection of some local event such as a great victory or a disastrous defeat, or of some outstanding personality. If the story concerns a saint it may assume a religious significance; in other instances it may perpetuate the memory of the founder of a ruling tribe or a royal family. In some societies the oral transmission of such traditions is

Art · Literature · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies · History