In the study of folklore and vernacular culture, the terms myth, legend, and folktale are often used together, yet they do not mean the same thing. Each form of traditional narrative carries its own purpose, social function, cultural authority, and relationship to belief. When we examine these categories carefully, we begin to see that folklore is not merely a collection of old stories. It is a living system of meaning through which communities explain the world, preserve memory, teach values, entertain listeners, and negotiate identity.