A legend is a traditional story about the past. The main characters are usually kings or heroes. Some examples of well-known legends include the tales of Odysseus from Ancient Greece, Beowulf from the Norse lands and King Arthur from Old England. Like myths, legends were thought to be true.
Myths are stories that are based on tradition. Some may have factual origins, while others are completely fictional. But myths are more than mere stories and they serve a more profound purpose in ancient and modern cultures. Myths are sacred tales that explain the world and man’s experience.
Do you see the difference between these two? If not, here’s a better explanation:
Myths are stories that are passed down about how or why something came to be. Legends are designed to teach a lesson about a real person in history, with a few facts dramatically changed.
Why do we call Maori stories Purakau?
1.) What is it? Pūrākau, or storytelling, is an ancient form not just of transmitting ideas but of creating shared meaning and thus identity. Contemporary scholars have examined whether pūrākau can be employed both as a research method and as a tool for decolonisation.
2.) Why is Purakau important? Kōrero pūrākau enable us to retain, reflect on, and understand our experiences. They also help us to communicate to others what we have learned from those events or encounters. Kōrero pūrākau often hold universal life lessons for audiences. Why we call it Purakau? It is because it is the translation for Maori and it is respectful for Te reo Maori.