What is the difference between folktale/law and myth?
Myths are much broader than origin stories. A myth is a story which is important to a culture, or sub-culture. It is a story which helps that culture to define itself. It can be based on a true story. So, for example, for Americans, the story of the War of Independence has become for many a myth about the valiant free-spirited colonist opposing the tyrannical British. In fact (according to the parks guide in Philadelphia) it was largely about grabbing land from Native Americans and tearing up their treaties with the British. Folk tales are just stories passed on verbally amongst the common people. Some of them have mythic qualities. The Selkie – sea person or mermaid – is, I believe, actually Scottish. in origin, from the Orkneys – Islands just of the North coast. I like “The Soldier and Death” – originally Russian – and broadcast on British TV some years ago http://www.angelfire.com/me3/muppets/Sto… F
