What are the Elements of a Legend?

The elements of a legend they are the characters, the plot, the plot and the environment. The legend is a particular type of narrative text that takes unverifiable events from the ancient history of a specific place.

For this reason, there can always be certain supernatural or inexplicable aspects that give fantastic elements to this type of narration.

What are the Elements of a Legend?

The main characteristic of the legends is that they start from a pretense of truthfulness. This peculiarity differentiates them from other genres.

That is, the legends are based on the belief that what is told really happened at some point.

To emphasize this idea, the legends use a series of elements that allow them to be effective in their intention.

The 4 main elements of the legends

1- Characters

As in any narrative text, the characters play a primordial role in the legends.

These are responsible for performing the actions that trigger the events of the story.

The legends are usually led by a hero who manages to overcome adversity or threats with the help of several extraordinary companions or divine characters.

Usually these heroes are based on real beings whose exploits have been exaggerated by people over time.

The amount of characters is usually not very large. In addition to the villains who oppose the hero, you can also find friends who help him in his adventures.

There may also be characters that are inanimate objects and play an important role in the development of the plot.

For example, in the case of the legend of King Arthur, the sword Excalibur is fundamental to the events that are narrated.

2- Plot

The plot of the legends usually reflects the beliefs, customs and values ​​of a community. In this sense, they try to portray the strengths, virtues, weaknesses and human defects.

So it is not uncommon for them to work as a story with a moral focus or to allow the transmission of a moral.

The wonderful or fantastic component can also be present, either through supernatural events or some exaggeration of the facts.

This generates admiration and amazement in the receivers and guarantees the maintenance and multiplication of the legend through the generations.

3- Argument

The story of the legends has to be full of many exciting and surprising events.

Its main intention is to take the characters by adverse situations so that they overcome them.

The hero must face all kinds of setbacks to overcome them and thus meet their inexorable fate. There is no fixed structure and it allows it to change over time.

4- Environment

The legends are circumscribed to a specific place. Although you can find common stories from different places, geography defines the hero and proposes a way to explain his actions.

In the case of time, legends are always set in the past, a glorious and prosperous past.

By not having a unique model, events evolve and change to go looking for the pleasure of the new receivers of the nearest times and keep the stories exciting, fresh and alive.

References

  1. Barrios, Yuranys (2014). Elements of the legend. Retrieved on November 13, 2017 at prezi.com
  2. Characteristics of the legend. Retrieved on November 13, 2017 at queesunaleyenda.com
  3. Characteristics Of Legend. Retrieved on November 13, 2017 at npsd.k12.nj.us.
  4. Sweetland, Robert. Myth and Legend - description of story elements and quality characteristics. Retrieved on November 13, 2017 at homeofbob.com
  5. White, Jessica. Stylistic Elements of a Legend. Retrieved on November 13, 2017 at penandthepad.com


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