Name: _________________________________________________

Legend or Myth

Read each selection carefully. While reading look for characteristics that will help you identify the

selection as either a myth or legend. Circle all evidence in the selections to prove your answer.

1. Thoth (THOTH or TOTE) was the god of the moon, medicine, and wisdom. It was thought that he was

the inventor of writing and knowledge. He was believed to keep a record of how long a person would

live. Thoth would decide who went to the kingdom of Osiris and who was eaten by the dogs of

judgment. He was sometimes shown as a baboon or an ibis. He was also shown as a man with the head

of a bird.

Was the main character ordinary or superhuman? _______________________________

Historical or explanation of an event?_________________________________________

Legend or Myth: _________________________________________________________

2. Arthur waited in line to try pulling the great sword from the stone. He had no idea that King Uther, who

had just died, was his real father. He had no way of knowing that he was the true heir to the throne. His

turn came. He gripped the huge sword, glittering with shiny metals and jewels, and slid it from its stone

scabbard. That was the proof that England needed. Arthur was crowned King. "Long live the king!"

Arthur ruled England with the guidance of his long-time guardian, Merlin the magician. He had brave

and loyal knights - Lancelot, Gawain, and many others. King Arthur's knights took their role seriously.

They promised to abide by a code of rules. They promised to act bravely and with honor. They promised

not to murder innocent people and to rescue ladies in distress.

Was the main character ordinary or superhuman? ___________________________

Historical or explantantion of an event? ___________________________________

Legend or Myth:_____________________________________________________

3. Greeks thought that Hercules was the son of the god Zeus and Alcmene. Alcmene was a beautiful Greek

woman. Zeus was the most powerful of all the Greek gods. Hercules had a very difficult life, though.

There was a god who didn't like Hercules very much. Her name was Hera. According to the story, when

Hercules was a baby, Hera sent snakes to kill him. Remember that Hercules was strong. He was able to

kill all the snakes! That made Hera even madder. When Hercules grew older, Hera cast a spell on him.

This spell made Hercules go crazy. Hercules killed his wife and two children while he was crazy. Hercules later got well again. Of course, he became very upset that he killed his family. He asked the

gods to help him. The Greek god Apollo told Hercules he must serve his cousin for twelve years. His

cousin was a king. He made Hercules to do twelve very hard tasks.

Was the main character ordinary or superhuman? ___________________________

Historical or explanation of an event? _____________________________________

Legend or Myth:______________________________________________________

4. John Smith arrived in Virginia and was at first welcomed by the Indians there. Later he was captured by

Indians who were either about to really kill him, or maybe performing some kind of initiation ceremony.

Pocahontas, about 12 years old at the time, rushed in and saved his life, just in the nick of time.

Was the main character ordinary or superhuman? ___________________________

Historical or explanation of an event? ___________________________________

Legend or Myth: ____________________________________________________

5. A long, long time ago, Poseidon, a Greek god, established a kingdom on alarge island. There, he fell in

love with a local woman. She bore him five sets of twins -- all boys. Poseidon made his eldest son,

Atlas, the ruler of the entire island and the ocean around it. He called the island Atlantis and

the ocean the Atlantic. As the story goes, Atlantis was a rich and beautiful country. From a bird's eye

view, the empire consisted of several concentric circles. Its capital was at the innermost circle, atop a

hill. Radiating from that pivotal point were alternating rings of canals and fields. There was also a huge

channel that cut across them all. It served as the link between the capital and the ocean. For thousands of

years, Atlantis was a formidable force. It conquered many nearby kingdoms. As the empire continued to

expand, its citizens became very greedy and corrupt. Their wicked ways made the Greek gods very

angry. To punish the Atlantians, the deities resorted to using earthquakes and floods. In a single day and

night, Atlantis sunk to the bottom of the sea. It would never be seen again!

Was the main character ordinary or superhuman? ___________________________

Historical or explanation of an event? ___________________________________

Legend or Myth: ____________________________________________________

6. Valentine lived in Rome during the reign of Claudius II. Claudius II was not a kind ruler. He would

throw people in jail if they did not worship Roman gods. He was especially cruel to Christians. Legend

has it that Valentine liked to cheer up jailed Christians. He would send them heart-shaped cards.

Claudius was also cruel to some of the Roman soldiers. He insisted on their total devotion. That left

them no time for love. Claudius issued an edict stating that soldiers could not get married. It is believed

that this rule upset Valentine. He thought that a soldier should be able to serve his country and be

married. Valentine disobeyed the ruler's orders. He began performing secret wedding

ceremonies for young soldiers and their sweethearts.

Was the main character ordinary or superhuman? ___________________________

Historical or explanation of an event? ___________________________________

Legend or Myth: ____________________________________________________