Urban Legend Worksheets

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

These are fictional stories that are entrenched in the current popular culture. These narratives often involve real people and tend to have a highly exaggerated element which makes them difficult to accept as fact. These types of stories will circulate by word of mouth without any evidence of truth. There are several key elements that make up these narratives. These features include: a mystical component, a highly level anxiety, a rumor, and a something recent occurrence. These types of stories can sometimes serve as a cautionary tale to others and just serve the community as juicy gossip without any substance. These worksheets will explore the nature of this genre in literature.

Urban Legend Worksheets To Print:

In My Town - Are there any narratives that are specific to the area where you live: your town, county, state, region, country, etc.? If you aren't already aware of one, conduct some research to identify one that is relatively local to you.

Box In - This worksheet will help you better learn nature of this genre.

Urban or Not? - Compare and contrast these very closely related genres.

Conspiracy Theory - Make two statements about aliens/UFOs using both forms we have already learned.

To Kill a Mockingbird - Explore this novel to see where you can infer this exists.

Mythbusters - In the Discovery Channel series Mythbusters, the hosts try to debunk popular urban legends by recreating the circumstances of the stories and applying science to determine how much fact they really contain. Often, they are able to conclusively disprove them; but sometimes they are not!

Well Known - Conduct research to try to either prove or disprove the legend. Do you believe it? Explain your answer and cite your sources.

The Bermuda Triangle - The Bermuda Triangle is a small area of the ocean between Miami, Bermuda and Puerto Rico where sailors and pilots have

Is It There - You will analyze current works.

Small Group Work - This will give you time to work with other to compose your own story.

Why It's Important - Explore the purpose of these types of works.

Summarize - Sum up a story that you have heard before.

Name It - Explain a cultural related well known narrative.

Chupacabra, Mothman, or Yeti - Choose one these themes and then write a persuasive paragraph about whether or not the this is real.

Break It Down - You will take in a story and see if it fits in this category.

Urban Legend as a Popular Genre of English Literature

An urban legend is a genre of English literature similar to folklore. These are famous fictional stories and are supposedly true and meant to fascinate, scare, or entertain their readers. At times, these types of narratives have also been created to spread fear, chaos, and a sense of alarm among people to achieve a personal agenda.


Urban legends involve fictional characters that are often presented as being real and are claimed to have been seen by people at some point in time. Usually, it is hard to trace where an urban legend story initially stemmed from.


Different cultures worldwide have different forms of these stories that reflect their unique societal characteristics, stories, and concepts. Some cultures have a firm belief in their unique stories, while for some, they are simply stories to frighten and excite children.


Just like every other genre of English literature, urban legend tales and stories also have their unique characteristics and properties.


Common Characteristics


- These stories contain fictional characters or characters with non-human attributes and certain powers, magical abilities, etc.


- The main character does not necessarily have to resemble a human and can be a monster or a ghost.


- These stories are presented as true; however, not many people believe in them.


- The details of the story are written as facts.


- These stories are not restricted to the realm of reality.


- Most of these stories have a horror or thrilling element used to frighten or alarm their readers. However, some urban legends do revolve around a more positive storyline.


- These tales are distinctive to different cultures and regions of the world. For instance, the slit-mouthed woman of Japan or Scotland's Loch Ness monster.


Some Examples of Urban Legends Found in Literature


- The bleeding spirit of Bloody Mary, who can supposedly appear if her name is repeated thrice.


- The Loch Ness Monster is believed to be an ancient creature living in the Loch Ness Lake of the Scottish Highlands.


- Bigfoot is believed to be a large ape-like creature who lives in the forests of North America.


- The tooth fairy is supposed to collect the pulled-out teeth from children in exchange for money.