Genre 101

Myths:  Some stories have to be told as related tales to be meaningful.  Myths portray themselves as representing a distant past.  They contain common themes and characters, often "gods."  Myths attempt to explain the beginning of the world, natural phenomena, the relationships between the gods and humans, and the origins of civilization. Myths, like legends, are stories told as though they were true. pick a natural event or recurring phenomena (or place), find a myth Legends:  While based in history, these stories embellish the life of a real or imaged person. Often their abilities are supernatural, or God-like. The facts and adventures of the person are exaggerated, making the individual famous for their deeds. pick a place or legendary hero, find a legend Fables:  Short stories, in verse or prose, with a moral ending.  These types of stories are credited Aesop (6th century BC), who told tales of animals and other inanimate objects that teach lessons about life.  pick an animal, find a fable Folktales:  These feature common folks, such as peasants, and commonplace events.   There maybe be some "make-believe" elements, like talking animals, but the stories, overall, sound logical - even realistic.  Folk tales seek to explain things about life, nature, or the human condition. pick a place, find a folktale

Fairy Tales:  Also called "magic stories," these are filled with dreamlike possibility. Fairy tales feature magical and enchanted forces.  They often have a "happily ever after" ending, where good is rewarded and evil is punished. pick a place, find a fairy tale There is a Modern Fiction Genre that incorporates a great amount of elements from these older story types... FANTASY: contains elements that are not realistic talking animals  magical powers  other than human characters often set in a medieval world  often involving legendary beings and mythical creatures