1. Explain the difference between a mystery and a legend.

Question

2. Create a list of at least five (5) of these proven and unproven beliefs about your chosen event.

3. Explain why each of the items in the list are proven or unproven.
1. A mystery is something that remains unexplained whereas a legend is a story that has been handed down by tradition from earlier
generations and is accepted as historical.

2. My five proven and unproven beliefs concerning Atlantis are: 1. Atlantis is an island that is set in the Atlantic Ocean. 2. There are many theories as to the exact location and destiny of Atlantis. 3. The question on whether Atlantis exists has been debated for many years. 4. The legend of Atlantis’s existence began with Plato who mentioned it in one of his writings. From the time of 1600s to now the question as to Atlantis and its existence has been debated. 5. The lost city of Atlantis has been depicted in many movies and books.

3. One proven belief that Atlantis is a legend comes when Plato mentions it. Plato in “Timaeus” says that Atlantis was larger than Asia Minor and Libya, and was a once-ideal state that became corrupt and militaristic and used its great power to attempt to conquer the world. It was destroyed by earthquakes and sank into the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantis is proven to be a mystery because the idea of an advanced civilization where learning and scientific research were encouraged appealed to Western rationalists who tried to identify the lost land with America and the Canary Islands.  Atlantis is proven to be a legend when Atlantis’s rediscovery occurs in Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1870), where science, in the shape of a submarine, fulfills its promise of answers to questions such as the one regarding Atlantis’s existence. Atlantis is a proven mystery as there are many theories as to the exact location and destiny of Atlantis. Yet the question has been debated by such notable writers as Montaigne and Voltaire dating back to as early as the 1600’s. The delightfully comic and touching novel “Masters of Atlantis” by Charles Portis proves Atlantis is a legend where he centers on an oddball character who dedicates his life to the preservation of the lore and wisdom of lost Atlantis. Atlantis: The Lost Empire is a movie that came out in 2001 by Walt Disney where a young man, along with a crew, relies on a book to guide them to the lost city of Atlantis. Other movies include Atlantis, the Lost Continent (1961), Atlantis: Milo’s Return (2003), and The Atlantis Interceptors (1983). These all reference Atlantis yet the question of its existence still lingers on today.

Answer 1

You're expecting someone to do all this work for you?

Or do you have questions about the assignments?

Answer 2

No, I am not expecting anyone to do the work for me. I have answered three questions and would like to get the opinion as to whether I am doing it correctly.

Answer 3

1. A mystery is something that remains unexplained whereas a legend is a story that has been handed down by tradition from earlier generations and is accepted as historical.

So ... legends can still be mysteries, right? Unexplained, but nevertheless accepted as "historical"? Your teacher may want clarification about that.

What you wrote for 2 all sound fine.

For 3, remember that Greeks and others sometimes use/used fictional places to illustrate the points they are trying to make. With that in mind, re-read what you wrote for 3, and repost if you change your mind or your phrasing and want it re-checked.