The structure of a legend is divided into introduction, development and outcome. The Legends Are short stories that are usually based on real events and characters, which are embellished and exaggerated in the narration.
Legends usually include mythological creatures and supernatural events. However, the way of presenting the events makes them feel closer to the lives of human beings than in the so-called myths (where the center are the Greek and Roman gods).
In this sense, Legends Give the impression of being more likely and less fictitious than the myths. In addition, the fact that the events narrated and the characters are real gives more truth to the legends, even when the story has been completely changed from generation to generation.
Usually, the story revolves around a historical or culturally important character (such as Robin Hood or King Arthur).
There are also legends about places (such as Atlantis and the Bermuda triangle), objects (the philosopher's stone and the holy grail) and animals (the monster of Loch Ness and the abominable snowman).
General Structure of Legends
The structure of a legend is the same as any other narrative text; That is, it presents an introduction, a development or a knot and an outcome.
Added to this, the legends are often framed in some of the following topics: the struggle between good and evil, friendship and enmity, wealth and poverty, wisdom and ignorance, strength and weakness, Justice and injustice, and adventures.
Legends that feature a relevant historical character usually follow the following structure.
Introduction
In the introduction, the information concerning the narratological elements of the legend, ie space, time and characters, is exposed.
Space refers to the physical place in which history develops and time is the historical moment in which the events narrated in the legend occur.
For their part, the characters are the actors in the story. In legends, the characters are usually individuals who actually existed and whose exploits are admirable. At the end of the introduction, it includes a problem that gives rise to development.
Development or knot
In development, the characters try to solve the problem. However, they constantly encounter difficulties that prevent them from solving the problem.
Then, the main character, our hero, envisions a plan that promises to be successful, giving way to the end.
Outcome
The hero solves the problem and thus ends the story. In many cases, it is intended that the characters have a happy ending, but sometimes historical facts do not allow the outcome to be as satisfying as the audience would like.
Structure of legends based on fantastic places, objects or beings
Unlike legends that focus on a historical character, legends that are based on places, objects or fantastic beings do not have a fixed structure.
In the introduction, you can present the characteristics of the locality, the object or the creature and explain why it is of interest.
The development may be constituted by an anecdote around these elements. For its part, the end can be open, can refer to the current or can leave a moral.
Examples of legends
Here are two examples of legends.
Example No. 1 - Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc, also known as the maid of Orleans, was born in Dorémy (Lorraine, France). At only 17 years old, he led the French army under the command of King Charles VII to expel the English from the territory of his nation.
At 13, Joan of Arc claimed she could hear the voice of God, later she would say that she was actually the voice of St. Catherine and St. Margaret.
This voice invited her to go to the church and assured him that Joan would be the only person capable of ending the siege that was taking place in Orleans.
In 1429, the maid of Orleans led the army in various clashes, such as the Battle of Patay, where he emerged victorious.
After her triumphs, Juana retired to Sully Castle. Sadly, it was captured and handed over to the English who accused her of heresy, so she was burned at Rouen.
Subsequently, the case of this young woman was reopened at the request of various kings and in 1456 she was acquitted of the charges she was accused of. For their part, the judges who intervened in their case were declared heretics.
Example No. 2 - The Loch Ness Monster
In Scotland, UK, there is a lake called Loch Ness which is believed to inhabit a giant aquatic animal, which has been named Nessie.
Those who have seen it say that it is about ten meters long, which has two humps, four fins and a head similar to that of a snake.
Since the seventh century, there have been sightings of the creature. There is even a text,"Life of St. Columbia,"in which it is said that a missionary confronted the beast to save a person who was being attacked.
In 1933, a couple of travelers claimed to have seen the creature as they passed the road near the lake.
Since then, the competition began to find Nessie. However, the results have been unsuccessful and, today, the existence of this creature remains a mystery.
Text sequences included in legends
The structures or textual sequences included in the legend are narration, description and, in some cases, dialogue.
Between the narrations, they emphasize:
1- Chronological episodes
2- Travel stories
3- Stories of the main character's life
4- Stories of the community in which the events of the legend are developed.
References
- What are Myth Legends and Folktales? Retrieved on June 27, 2017, from myths.e2bn.org.
- Myth and Legends. Retrieved on June 27, 2017 from ancient-origins.net.
- Legends. Language Features and Text Structure. Retrieved on June 27, 2017, from cps7awesomegiants2012.pbworks.com.
- How to Write a Legend. Retrieved on June 27, 2017, from creative-writing-ideas-and-activities.com.
- Myth and Legend. Retrieved on June 27, 2017, from omeofbob.com.
- Legend vs. Myth. Retrieved on June 27, 2017, from diffen.com.
- BBC. Myths and Legends. Retrieved on June 27, 2017, from bbc.co.uk.