Elements of Reality in Irish Mythology

Abstract

The word „legend” means a story coming down from the past; especially: one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable. The word „myth” means a usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon. The word „folktale” means a characteristically anonymous, timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally among the people. Upon analyzing the definitions, a person first notices that in none of the definitions does it say that the stories told as myths, legends or folktales have to be false – or true for that matter. It only says they are unverifiable. Unverifiable means that not enough proof is found to substantiate the story. (Introduction)