This document defines and distinguishes between different types of symbolic narratives including allegory, parable, fairytales, folklore, legends, and myths. Allegories and parables are short stories that convey abstract meanings or teach moral lessons, while fairytales are imaginative stories meant to impart a lesson. Folklore consists of traditional cultural tales, legends involve historical or local stories, and myths explain natural phenomena or the actions of gods through stories of heroes and creatures.

1. Introduction & Terms for
Understanding

2. ALLEGORY
• A short symbolic narrative
• Represents a spiritual or
abstract meanings
PARABLE: a short
allegory designed to
teach some truth
(religious principle, moral
or life lessons)

3. Fairytales
• Highly interesting,
imaginative stories that
are implausible
• Symbolic in nature
• Meant to teach a lesson

4. Folklore & folktales
• A traditional story of a
culture, locale
• Not related to history,
but known common or
“local” knowledge
• Any belief or story that
is passed down through
oral tradition

5. Legend
• Associated with a
historical or verifiable
story
• Associated with
“local” or geographic
locations,
• Tales of “weird
happenings” or
phenomenon that
cannot be proven

7. MYTH
• A traditional story
concerning a hero or
event, gods,
goddesses, or
creatures
• Explains some practice,
rite, or phenomenon of
nature
• With or without a basis
of fact or natural
explanation