DefinitionsDefinitions

Native American LiteratureNative American Literature

MythMyth

Myth Myth

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

Synonyms: fable, fabrication, fairy story, fantasy, Synonyms: fable, fabrication, fairy story, fantasy, fiction, folk ballad, folktale, illusion, legend, lore, fiction, folk ballad, folktale, illusion, legend, lore, superstitionsuperstition

FableFable

FableFable

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

2. A story about supernatural or extraordinary 2. A story about supernatural or extraordinary persons or incidents; legend: the fables of gods and persons or incidents; legend: the fables of gods and heroes. heroes.

Synonyms: allegory, fabrication, fairy story, fairy Synonyms: allegory, fabrication, fairy story, fairy tale, fantasy, fib, fiction, figment, fish story, tale, fantasy, fib, fiction, figment, fish story, invention, legend, myth, tale, whopper, yarninvention, legend, myth, tale, whopper, yarn

LegendLegend

LegendLegend

A nonhistorical or unverifiable story handed A nonhistorical or unverifiable story handed down by tradition from earlier times and down by tradition from earlier times and popularly accepted as historical. popularly accepted as historical.

Synonyms: fable, fiction, folk story, folktale, Synonyms: fable, fiction, folk story, folktale, folklore, myth, mythos, narrative, sagafolklore, myth, mythos, narrative, saga

FolktaleFolktale

FolktaleFolktale

1. A tale or legend originating and traditional 1. A tale or legend originating and traditional among a people or folk, esp. one forming part among a people or folk, esp. one forming part of the oral tradition of the common people. of the oral tradition of the common people.

2. Any belief or story passed on traditionally, 2. Any belief or story passed on traditionally, esp. one considered to be false or based on esp. one considered to be false or based on superstition. superstition.

Synonyms: folk history, folk story, legend, Synonyms: folk history, folk story, legend, mythmyth