INTRODUCTION

Myth and legend

It is a story of wonderful events featuring characters
supernatural (gods, demigods, monsters) or extraordinary
(heroes). In contrast, the legend is a traditional narrative or collection.
of interconnected narratives of imaginary events but that
consider real.
The legend and the myth have, however, certain similarities: both have
passed down from generation to generation through oral transmission or
writing, both are narratives that seek to explain an event or phenomenon
which is enigmatic or mysterious.
The myth and the legend
The myth, in general, is a narrative that describes and portrays in language
symbolic the origin of the elements and basic assumptions of a
culture.
It is a tale of marvelous events starring characters
supernatural (gods, demigods, monsters) or extraordinary
(heroes).
The mythical narration tells, for example, how the world began,
how humans and animals were created, and how they originated
certain customs, rites, or forms of human activities. Almost
all cultures possess or have possessed myths and lived in
relationship with them.
On the other hand, the legend is a traditional narrative or collection of
interrelated narratives of imaginary events but that are
consider real.
Sometimes a mixture of real events and fiction occurs, although it
part of historically true situations. The word comes from
medieval Latin legend and means 'what is to be read'.
According to Oreste Plath, researcher of Chilean popular traditions,
the myth provides knowledge of the life of ancient man and the
interpretation of their thoughts and actions. It is a key that passes
to be the aid to many humanistic and scientific disciplines that
they explore the origin, the environment, and the natural and intellectual activities of
man.
Legends respond -according to Plath- to the stimuli of nature.
surrounding, they may have a reason, hide a truth, have a relationship
with geography, with a historical fact or with an event that
repeated and exaggerated integrates the folkloric heritage.

Both myths and legends constitute a narrative that reveals the most
deep-seated customs and creole beliefs and are a reflection of the
identity of a country.
What are myths?
Poseidon
Poseidon, the god of the seas, is a figure typical of the
Greek mythology.
Myths make up the belief system or worldview of a
town or culture, as they are where beliefs are poured out with the
which has traditionally explained its own origin
and reason for all things. For this reason they are located outside
of historical time.

Considered as a whole, myths shape mythologies. Of

there are different mythologies for each culture. There is the
Greek-Roman mythology, Norse mythology, Aztec mythology, Maya mythology, Inca mythology or the

China, among many others.

In Greek mythology, for example, the world began with a

deep void called Chaos. The Earth (Gaia) emerged
spontaneously from Chaos and gave birth to the sky (Uranus). From that
there began the so-called "era of the gods", in which they are created
the first deities that are the ones that initiate civilization.

For its part, in Maya mythology there is a series of stories and

myths collected in the Popol Vuh, a book that is considered
sacred in that culture. It describes the emergence of the
first gods, the creation of the first men of wood,
after mud and finally corn, which are the ones that begin to
reproduce and populate the world.

Characteristics of myths
Myths have distinct characteristics that set them apart.
of another type of stories:

It is a story of traditional origin: it is transmitted orally from

from one generation to another.
They have a foundational context: the stories and tales that
They compose a myth set in a time prior to the presence.
of humanity.
They have a religious or spiritual load (worship of gods)
natural phenomena.
They are the fruit of imagination and creativity.
They address universal themes: the creation of the universe and of the
humanity, human conflicts, love, violence, grief,
the wars, etc.
Types of myths
Myths can be classified according to their thematic axes:

Cosmogonic myths: these are those that explain the origin of

universe, as the origin of Gaia, the Earth, in Greek mythology.
Theogonic myths: explain the origin of the gods. In the Theogony
Hesiod recounts the origin of the first generation of gods.
Greeks
Anthropogenic myths: they explain the origin of humanity, such as
the tales of the first men and women of corn, in the
Popol Vuh.
Foundational myths: they describe the creation of towns or cities
at the hands of a higher being. In Roman mythology, Rome was
founded by Romulus and Remus, two twin brothers sons of a
god (Mars) and a princess (Rhea).
Moral myths: they depict the struggle between good and evil, or
of contrary concepts.
Etiological myths: explain the origin of plants and animals.
Eschatological myths: announce the end of the world, generally at
through natural disasters that will end civilization,
like the Apocalypse, in the Bible.
What are legends?
The legends, for their part, are also stories that can include
fantastic or marvelous elements, but they usually have a certain
more or less recognizable historical basis, which, unlike the
myth, adds a certain verisimilitude. A classic example of legend
They are the stories of Robin Hood.

Nowadays, there is also the urban legend, which is based on

themes of popular knowledge about whose reasons or motives are
Speculate. Urban legends would be about Walt's freezing.
Disney or the research on extraterrestrial lives in Area 51,
in the United States.

Characteristics of legends
They help explain what is difficult to understand for a
social group, but it has at least one real trait or element.
They take place in a context, space, or time easily
recognizable.
They can be composed of a series of stories that revolve around
around the same character or event, as is the case with
all the stories about El Cid Campeador or Robin Hood.
Types of legends
HISTORICAL LEGENDS
They explain events that occurred during armed conflicts, such as
wars or conquest processes. In Spain, there is the legend of
a nobleman they called Guzmán the Good, who allowed the
Moroccan invaders will kill your son in order not to surrender.
the castle they had been entrusted to defend. This he did
worthy of the lordship of Sanlúcar from King Sancho IV,
as a show of loyalty.

URBAN LEGENDS
They are part of contemporary folklore and generally are
develop in an urban context. Social networks have
contributed to feeding or creating new legends of this type, already
what are the means by which information is shared very
quickly.

In the United States, there is an urban legend about a game of

arcade called Polybius, which supposedly existed in the decade
from the eighties and that left physical sequels in those who it
they played. With the massification of the internet and the culture of the
video games, the legend has regained strength in recent years and
Attempts have been made to recreate a similar game.

LOCAL LEGENDS
They are the ones that try to explain events in a very
specific, like the origin of the name of a street.

In Caracas, Venezuela, there is a corner called 'El Muerto',

which according to the legend owes its name to a curious anecdote:
during the Federal War (1859-1863), badly injured soldiers and
the dead in combat were piled up in the streets. One day, it happened
a crew responsible for taking away the corpses and one of the
soldiers, who was believed to be dead, stood up shouting that he was
alive.

This caused the crew to run out horrified. Since

Then, the corner was renamed 'The Dead.'

RURAL LEGENDS
They are narratives that take place in a rural context, and being so
specific ones cannot be transferred to an urban context.
In many parts of Latin America, there are legends about goblins.
fantastic animals or entities that terrorize the inhabitants, they
they either eat or steal the cattle or take the children.

Etiological Legends
They are tales about the origin of elements of nature, such as
animals, plants, rivers, etc.

In Mexico, there is a legend about a sorceress who lived in the

that nowadays is Baja California and that had killed almost everyone
the indigenous people of the area. One of the members of the last family
who survived managed to enter the cave and kill the
sorceress. Then, they set the place on fire, and from the ashes was formed
the Cerro Prieto volcano.

RELIGIOUS LEGENDS
They explain anecdotes linked to saints or religious figures, or
stories about the righteous and sinners.

The legend about the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe in

Mexico or the Virgin of Chiquinquirá in Venezuela are part of
the religious legends.

ESCATOLOGICAL LEGENDS
They are catastrophic stories about the end of the world or about events
paranormal

In Latin America, there are many tales of chance encounters.

with people who turned out to be dead. Even, stories
traditionally rural places like La Llorona have moved to a
urban context.

The origin of legends dates back to prehistoric times, when the

emerging civilizations began to show concern in preserving
traditions, morality, ethics or celebrations, in short, their culture.

Legends are defined as a form of narrative that speaks of

development of characters and historical events related to the
popular traditions.

The parts of a legend like the epic songs

The legend of King Arthur is one of the most well-known.
Mostly, legends narrate events that cannot be
corroborated by science or history.
These events represent a symbolism of great importance for the
culture from where they originate, as legends often mix elements
historical and mythical qualities to explain origin and meaning.

Origin and evolution of the legend

The word legend was first used in the 17th century.
It comes from the Latin legere, defined as to read, and legenda, or things to be read.
to read.

During this time, English-speaking Christian Protestants used

the word to describe the history of the saints of the Catholic Church.

They would refer to these stories as legends, as they considered them

fictitious, thus debunking their holiness. However, the legends
they started a long time ago.

Linguist Michael Witzel stated that legends originated in the

African eve over 100,000 years ago.

During this historical period, the first modern humans

they emerged and with them the origin of legends.

In wanting to preserve their culture, they recreated anecdotes of heroes and

events that marked society.

These primitive legends mostly narrated the origin of

unknown natural phenomena for humans and were transmitted
from teacher to student and shaman to the tribe to preserve their history.

According to this theory, some legends have prevailed for three thousand
years, passed down from generation to generation.

As social and technological progress advanced, the legends were lost.

credibility, but they prevailed as fictional and mythical events of the
ancestors.

Its purpose evolved to convey stories and traditions

generational, not necessarily true, but part of the folklore of
a society.

The narrators were characterized by telling stories with a language

expressive and exaggerated body movements to bring life to the
legends. Generally, these storytellers were advanced adults
considered the wisest.

In this way, the legends were passed down by the wise to the
children, where adults also participated, especially before
the emergence of radio and television.

The legends served to transmit memories, recollections, and the

collective sentiment of a population.

They were talking about the primitive perception of the first storytellers, and
over time, they underwent changes or modifications from the narrators who
they happened.

That is why legends do not have a definitive form, as their

Content varies between generations and localities.

After the invention of the printing press, the legends were recorded in
writing to safeguard the popular tales of continuing to suffer
generational modifications.

Legends are considered anonymous, as it is a difficult task.

identify their origin. Those responsible for collecting and writing legends
they are known as gatherers.
However, narrating legends orally is still considered a practice
common, as it preserves the tradition of storyteller to listener. Nowadays,
legends are considered a cultural heritage that helps
to forge identity in different societies.