Legend Worksheets

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

A legend is a story about the action of a person or human events which is regarded as a true story but is not verifiable. These types of narratives often are passed from generation to generation in many different cultures. Even though they are not historically substantiated and are heavily rooted in fiction many people believe them and many famous world explorers have even held expeditions to find locations and items related to legends. Legends can be set in any time period and are often crafted for a specific purpose such as portraying a moral to others. Facts are often sprinkled in there to make them seem more real than they are. These worksheets will help students begin to understand the nature of a Legend and the purposes behind this genre of literature.

Legend Worksheets To Print:

Myth? - We help students ponder the differences between the two genres.

Complete Context - Complete all the blanks by using the surronding context that these words may be used in.

King Arthur - Who are some of the well-known figures and places that come from the story of King Arthur?

Count Dracula - What did the novelist Bram Stoker contribute to how we think about vampires today?

The Concepts - Take some time to differentiate between all of these closely related genres of literature.

A Deeper Look - We start to pick apart myths and where they stand in our minds.

Urban Legends - These are stories that are widely circulated as true, such as ghost stories or hauntings.

What's It Based On? - These stories are often adapted in modern literature and film. For this exercise, pretend you are a novelist or a filmmaker who is going to adapt a legend for a modern audience.

What Is It? - A good introduction for students to these types of stories.

The Flying Dutchman - This is the story of a ghost ship that is set in the sea. Cartoons even covered it in many different episodes.

Faust - In the real world, what kind of person is Faust?

Segmented Elements - How do you set up students to enjoy stories like this?

Features - Explain how each of the features of a myth identified above is demonstrated.

Modern Forms - Write a persuasive paragraph about whether or not The Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, or The Abominable Snowman is real. Your choice.

Organizer - This one will help you explore this topic in depth.

What is a Literary Legend?

Legend is a sub-genre of the epic. You can find myths, sagas, poems, etc., in this category. These narratives often will discuss the critical past events that are totally or partly fantastic. They are explained through different narratives that have been transmitted from generation to generation. As a result, it is impossible to tell whether or not the events depicted in the legends are based on fact or fiction, as there is a mix of genuine and fantastical persons and circumstances involved.


Characteristics of a Legend


1. Outstanding Features


Stories that can be classified as legends have many fantastical elements, such as miraculous events and otherworldly creatures. This is because:


- They are a part of the culture and social tradition. They predate the current strength of the scientific understanding of reality.


- They were not written to explain the system of the world but rather to convey notions, understanding, and ideas.


2. Explanation of Historical Facts


These narratives began as a way to clarify things that might have happened to the previous generations and to understand the present moment better. Therefore, you should have a firm grasp of historical events. These stories are interpreted with the gullibility of facts. These facts have no proof; they are only believed to capture the past events described through metaphors.


3. Story Setting in a Particular Location


This trait might appear boring at first, as we are habitual of seeing stories about specific persons and their actions taking place in particular locations in today's world. However, we must remember that the legend genre frequently deals with topics and events that are so cryptic that we have difficulty picturing where they take place.


4. Using Archetypes


Archetypes are used to great effect to formulate a legend. Characters throughout human history have embodied archetypes. Hero archetypes have an essential role in mythology since they serve as role models for good deeds and as the protagonist of a story.


As a result, characters in myths and legends rarely have a clear sense of right and wrong. However, their roles within the story are always crystal clear because they are all described in the description.


5. Populating Human or Semi-Human Characters in the Story


The characters of these stories must be relatable to all members of society. Therefore, most of the characters are human or partially human (psychologically, though their physical appearance may vary significantly) to express the most common ideas and feelings of the people in the culture they belong to.


6. Local Folklore


The symbols and imagery of local folklore serve as a foundation for the legends since they are familiar to everyone who lives in the region.


7. Definitive Ending


It is rare for these types of narratives to have open-ended endings that allow for a wide range of interpretations. Even if it ends with a cliffhanger, there is little left to speculate on other than what can be inferred from the legend.


Legends are written by those with excellent knowledge about past events and scenarios. Writing in this form is not a piece of cake. Therefore, you should get familiar with these characteristics before taking on a narrative of this magnitude.