Fairy tales, myths, and legends. Everyone knows them. They are centuries old and we still grow up with them. They have enriched our language with expressions like "Oedipus complex" and "wage a titanic struggle." Even in new stories, they appear. Harry Potter, for example, contains a treasure trove of ancient myths and legends. But what is the difference between these different folk tales? And what makes them still so attractive?
Know your stories
Fairy tales – enchanting stories
From Hansel and Gretel to The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats and from Tom Thumb to Snow White. Fairy tales are based on fantasy and have a magical atmosphere around them. Think of giants, dwarfs, witches, and wizards. They often start with "Once upon a time..." and end with "...and they lived happily ever after." They also take place in an undefined location in an undefined past. It's interesting to know that fairy tales were originally intended for adults. They were much more gruesome and violent in the past. Only later were they censored and told to our children.
Fables – animal stories
A fable is a made-up story from the natural world, of which the most famous ones are from the animal world. Animals in these stories have human characteristics. Examples of well-known fables are The Tortoise and the Hare and Reynard the Fox.
Myths – stories of gods
Myths are stories about gods and demigods. The precise time and place are not clear. From the Olympic gods like Athena and Zeus to demigods like Achilles and Heracles; everyone has heard stories about Greek mythology. But they also exist in other cultures. Like in Scandinavia, where they have a great mythological tradition with stories about gods such as Thor, Odin, and Freyja.
Sagas – hero stories
Sagas focus on real people, often kings and heroes such as Charlemagne, Bluebeard, and Faust. However, the stories contain supernatural elements such as witches, White Ladies, and devils. The stories have a historical core.
Legends – miraculous stories
Legends are religious stories about saints or objects that have experienced something miraculous. Objects can be graves and relics. Think of stories such as William Tell (Swiss legend about the apple of William Tell), St. George and the Dragon (modern adaptation of the story of the dragon slayer), Romulus and Remus (the origin of the city of Rome), and Robin Hood (an outlaw who stole from the rich and gave it to the poor).
The similarity
All folktales entertain, but they also have one big similarity: they give meaning to our lives. They give meaning to how we can understand humans in the larger scheme of things and how we should behave as humans. Myths, sagas, and legends were created out of a need for explanation. Questions about the origin of humans, the world, and natural phenomena we didn't understand were attributed to supernatural powers. They gave us guidance.
Endless attraction
They also contain a wealth of life lessons on love, deceit, hope, and death, for example. Fairy tales and fables also tell us about the golden path of life. You can always learn something about good and evil and what you should and shouldn't do. The wise lesson of "slow and steady wins the race" comes from "The Tortoise and the Hare". Folktales thus appeal to big themes and emotions, which are timeless. That's why they still capture our imagination today and contribute to their endless attraction. They have been returning for centuries.
Timeless stories
Wherever people are, stories are told. Some stories last longer than others. The stories that endure are those that touch on themes and emotions that are timeless. Those are truly powerful stories. It's not a bad idea to touch on big human themes in your brand stories. It helps you gain more attraction. Nike does this beautifully. The brand name derives from Niké, the goddess of victory, and thus connects with a timeless theme. So, Just do it! Get to work on storytelling!