What is the difference between a myth, a fable, a legend & a fairy tale?

[KatyMac]

DD asked

& I really don't know

Any suggestions?

Myth - based on beliefs - gods/goddesses etc
Fable - story with meaning/lesson in it
A legend - supposedly based on fact
Fairy tale - fantasy story

That would be my best guess.

Myth ? a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

Fairy tale ? story told to children

Legend- a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events

Fable ? story with a moral

So where do Robin Hood, King Arthur or William Tell come?

king arthur is a legend? Although based on a real person.

Lady in the lake, merlin and sword in stones?

William tell is fact ins't it?? He's areal person who did something factual (shooting an apple of his son's head???)

Robin Hood -fable? Stealing from the rich to give to the poor is morally justified???

Legends-in reply to KatyMac.

But then Robin Hood is folk lore too!!

I would say they are all legends because they are stories that might be based on fact.

Oh Folk Tales too

I am so confused

legend (STORY) Show phonetics
noun [C or U]
a very old story or set of stories from ancient times, or the stories, not always true, that people tell about a famous event or person:

MYTH
a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.

1. stories or matter of this kind: realm of myth.
2. any invented story, idea, or concept: His account of the event is pure myth.
3. an imaginary or fictitious thing or person.
4. an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution

FABLE
fa⋅ble
   /ˈfeɪbəl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [fey-buhl] Show IPA Pronunciation
noun, verb, -bled, -bling.
?noun

1. a short tale to teach a moral lesson, often with animals or inanimate objects as characters; apologue: the fable of the tortoise and the hare; Aesop's fables.

FAIRYTALE:
fairy tale
 
?noun

1. a story, usually for children, about elves, hobgoblins, dragons, fairies, or other magical creatures.
2. an incredible or misleading statement, account, or belief: His story of being a millionaire is just a fairy tale.

Robin Hood and King Arthur are legends IMO.

I go with chug

I think fable has to have a moral point.

Myths and legends are somewhat interchangeable, in that they all have some basis in fact, but may well have been elaborated on.

Fairy tales are stories which all include some element of magic/fantasy.

But maybe I know nothing and am spouting a load of rubbish!!

isn't william tell just a historical character?

He may be a historical character but his exploits are legends.

You see, it isn't straight forward is it?

is she in year 5?

Yr 6

just it is a topic in y5

myht were created long ago, often to explain a scientific phenomenon which the people did not understand eg how the sun got in the sky
a legend often has some facts based in reality but is embellished through time - so often the key character is an historical figure, but the tale may not be 100% true
a fable is a story with a moral - often uses animals in the place of humans
fairy tale has a very particular structure with stock characters and has a fantasy element

folk tales are often regional - like fairy tales to an extent but with a regional element

Thanks everyone

I might be starting to understand it vaguely maybe

Oh give me a maths question every day - so much easier

so Robin Hood is def regional...

Sherwood Forest
Sheriff of Nottingham

& all the Disney films with their message are actually fables?

of a fashion, yes