Mythology A traditional story that was created to explain mysteries of the universe. Characteristics: Myths explain how something connected with humans or nature came to be and features gods/goddesses as characters.

Legend A story passed down through many generations that is believed to be based on real people and events. Characteristics: Legends tell about a hero who has unusual powers and highlights positive ways of behaving.

Fable A brief story that teaches a lesson, or moral, about human nature. Characteristics: Fables usually include animal characters that stand for specific human qualities, such as kindness or dishonesty. Fables have a moral that is directly stated at the end.

Tall Tale A humorously exaggerated story about impossible events. Characteristics: Tall Tales star a hero who is larger than life – that is bigger, stronger, and even louder than a regular person. Tall Tales use exaggeration.

Parable A parable is a brief story, that illustrates a moral or religious lesson. It differs from a fable in that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human characters. It is a type of analogy.[1]