legend in the literature

• Literary Terms
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Use a Legend

I. What is a Legend?

A legend (/ˈlejənd/) is a story about human events or actions that has not been proved nor documented in real history. Legends are retold as if they are real events and were believed to be historical accounts. They usually tell stories about things that could be possible, so both the storyteller and the audience may believe they are true. Its meaning stems from the Medieval Latin term legenda , meaning “things to be read.” and from the Latin legendus .

The details in legends are altered and adapted over time so that they stay interesting for audiences—for instance, the legend of the Philosopher’s Stone (a magical stone that can make a person immortal and turn metals into gold) can be found in literature in the Middle Ages to the modern day Harry Potter series. Legends don’t claim to be exact retellings of events, so they are neither wholly believed nor wholly doubted by the audience or the author.

Sometimes, it’s hard to say whether a legend is fiction or nonfiction—the truth behind it can be unclear. For example, the legends of the Lochness Monster and Bigfoot are based on real sightings, but their existence remains unproved today. Conversely, an urban legend is a fictional story in popular culture that is known to be false, for example; a rumor passed on year after year to each new group of freshmen about an old janitor who used to murder students at the local high school.

Though this article focuses on the literary definition, it is important to note that nowadays, we also use the term “legend” when we want to emphasize something’s fame or importance. We often describe things as “legendary”— for example, we would say that Babe Ruth is a legend of baseball and Elvis is a rock and roll legend, “legendary” in popular culture.

II. Example of a Legend

Read the short story below:

Alongside the river in Old Usquepaugh, Rhode Island is an old grist mill that was built the 1700s. It is settled beside a misty waterfall, its wheel spinning in the water all day and night to churn out corn. Across from the mill, workers built small cottages into the sides of the hill with stones and stone and packed the walls with horse hair for warmth. On one night in October, during the full moon, one of the workers noticed that the mill’s wheel stopped spinning, so he pulled on his coat and walked to the mill. He thought he saw a branch wedged in the top of the wheel, so climbed a ladder to the roof. As he reached to grab the branch, he lost his footing, falling into the rocky falls below. His body was never found. They say that every October, on the night of the full moon, the wheel stops turning as it did that night long ago…and coming from the mist of the falls, you can hear the sound of a man moaning.

The ghost story above could be a legend for several key reasons. First, it is based on a real place and corn mill in Rhode Island, where the mill worker’s cottages still stand today. Second, the plotline is believable and possible. Third, the details are ambiguous…does the wheel really stop every October? It’s possible. Can you hear a man moaning? Unlikely…but could it be real? As you can see, parts of the story are real, but other parts are, perhaps, fiction.

III. Importance of Legends

As stories, mankind has and always will love legends—they are an intriguing form of storytelling because we want to believe that they are true. They are an essential part of oral and written folklore; they are found in folktales from all cultures (see Related Terms). It is part of our nature to share interesting and significant tales with friends and future generations so that they can be recorded and remembered. As much as people like to tell stories, they like to exaggerate even more, which is why legends are so timeless—their facts have been embellished and changed so many times that the truth becomes a mystery that still might need to be solved, and that makes them particularly intriguing. So long as we continue to pass down interesting stories, legends will continue to exist and flourish.

IV. Examples of Legend in Literature

Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur is the most famous and influential collection of tales in literature detailing the legend of King Arthur. In fact, all of the stories you’ve ever heard about King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, Lancelot, the wizard Merlin, the Knights of the Round Table, and the city of Camelot are likely from Le Morte d’Arthur . The passage below is from the Third Book of Le Morte d’Arthur , in the chapter titled “How the knights of the Round Table were ordained, and their sieges blessed by the bishop of Canterbury”:

When king Arthur heard of the coming of Guenever and the hundred knights with the Table Round, then king Arthur made great joy for their coming, and that rich present, and said openly, This fair lady is passing welcome unto me, for I have loved her long, and therefore there is nothing so lief to me. And these knights with the Round Table please me more than right great riches. And in all haste the king let ordain for the marriage and the coronation in the most honourablest wise that could be devised.

The above selection recounts the day when Guinevere supposedly came to Camelot and Arthur’s plans for their wedding. Furthermore, Malory describes the arrival of the “Table Round” and the knights that were carrying it. But, whether or not any of this actually happened remains debatable. While it is generally believed that King Arthur was a real historical figure, the particulars of his life and rule are uncertain, unreliable, and unclear—thus, all of the stories about King Arthur are legends.

The legend of the vampire Count Dracula has been inspiring vampire stories and culture for two centuries. Bram Stoker unveiled this character in the iconic 1897 horror novel Dracula . Stoker did not create the legend that vampires exist, but he created our idea of vampires—the character Dracula represents our modern perception of vampires in every way. Visualize a “classic” vampire—you probably see an ancient man with pale white skin, sharp fangs dripping red, a cape shaped like a bat’s wings, and a sinister desire for human blood. Furthermore, you imagine that he can only come out at night, and sleeps in a coffin during the day, and is cold to the touch, like a corpse. Read the following passage from Dracula—

I raised the lid, and laid it back against the wall; and then I saw something which filled my very soul with horror. There lay the Count, but looking as if his youth had been half renewed, for the white hair and moustache were changed to dark iron-grey; the cheeks were fuller, and the white skin seemed ruby-red underneath; the mouth was redder than ever, for on the lips were gouts of fresh blood, which trickled from the corners of the mouth and ran over the chin and neck.

Here, the narrator finds the Count in his coffin at night, having clearly just fed on human blood. Stoker’s description above paints the perfect picture of today’s classic vampire. From horror flicks, to teen vampire novels, to scary Halloween costumes, to Count Chocula breakfast cereal, Stoker’s Count Dracula has infiltrated not only literature, but all parts of popular culture. He successfully turned the age-old legend of evil beings that drink human blood into iconic image. Interestingly, Count Dracula was supposedly inspired by a 16 th century Romanian general of the same name, which tempts audiences to wonder…could vampires be real?

V. Examples of Legend in Pop Culture

Legends are often based on creatures that could be real, but haven’t been proven to exist according to science. These legends often date back centuries and have been retold generation after generation up until today, where they remain mysteries. Bigfoot, the Lochness Monster, and the Abominable Snowman are three prime examples of legends that some people are still searching for. On the Discovery Channel show River Monsters , biologist and TV presence Jeremy Wade explores reported sightings of giant river creatures. In the series special “Legend of Loch Ness,” Wade tries to uncover the mystery of the legend of the Loch Ness monster, as he introduces in the following clip:

In his introduction, Wade explains why this legend is so hard for him to believe—yet he is still setting out on a mission to discover the monster in Loch Ness, truly believing it could exist. There are an abundance of documentaries and episodes on television tackling legends just like this. Nowadays, with the ability to capture things on videos, you’d think it would be easier to prove and disprove these creatures’ existence—but in fact, it makes people question more and search even harder.

Some authors and artists create fictional legends based on personal ideas, as did the creators of The Legend of Zelda , a fantasy video game series that has been a gaming favorite since the first release 1986. The back-story was dreamt up by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka and was then developed by Nintendo. The game designers turned Miyamoto’s childhood memories into their own fantasy world; complete with the legend of the elf warrior Link and his many quests . Link is the protagonist and the games’ playable character, and in each version of the game he is tasked with saving the princess Zelda. Game play is set in the kingdom of Hyrule, which has its own complex history. So, the legend of Zelda isn’t a legend from man’s history—it’s a legend from Hyrule’s history. In the clips below, a fan outlines the detailed history of Hyrule, its major figures, and the legend of Zelda.

History of Hyrule Part I:

History of Hyrule Part II:

The Legend of Zelda has also been made into several animated TV series, comic books, and other forms of media. Since the 1980s, a new video or computer game has been released every few years, each with fresh storylines and quests for Link to complete.

VI. Related Terms

Folktales are classic stories that have been passed down throughout a culture’s oral and written tradition; together they make up a culture’s folklore . They usually involve some elements of fantasy and explore popular questions of morality and right and wrong, oftentimes with a lesson to be learned at the end. A legend is a particular type of story found in oral and written folklore.

A myth is a classic or legendary story that usually focuses on a particular hero or event, and explains mysteries of nature, existence, or the universe with no true basis in fact. Sometimes, myths use legends as part of the story. The primary difference between the two forms is that overall, myths are now known and believed to be false, while many legends can still be based on some level of truth. Furthermore, legends are generally about human affairs, while myths almost always involve the gods and goddesses—for instance, the story of Hercules is a myth, while the story of King Arthur is a legend.

VII. Conclusion

Today this day, legends have a significant role in not only literature, but popular culture as well. They are timeless stories that can be adapted for any audience in any style, making them an invaluable form of storytelling.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
• Cite This Website

Definition of Legend

Originated from Latin legendus , legend means “something which ought to be read.” According to J. A. Cuddon, a legend is “a story or narrative that lies somewhere between myth and historical fact and which, as a rule, is about a particular figure or person.” Traditionally, a legend is a narrative that focuses on a historically or geographically specific figure, and describes his exploits. Similar to a myth, a legend can provide an etymological narrative, often filling in historical gaps.

Difference Between a Legend and a Myth

There are marked differences between a legend and a myth. While legends are made up stories, myths are stories that answer questions about the working of natural phenomenon. Myths are set in olden times, even in pre-historic times. However, legends are stories about people and their actions, or deeds they perform to save their people or nations.

The people mentioned in legends might have lived in recent times, or sometime in known history. Legends are told to serve a specific purpose, and can be based on facts – but they are not completely true. People mentioned in a legend might not have really done what the story of the legend relates. In some cases, legends change the historical events.

King Arthur, Beowulf , and Queen Boadicea are some popular English legends. However, it is also important to understand that some of the stories about the Knights of the Round Table, and Merlin the Magician may not be true. The common point between a myth and a legend is that they both have been passed down from generation to generation in oral form.

Examples of Legend from Literature

Example #1: faust.

Faust is the major character in the classical German legend. According to the legend, Faust was a dissatisfied scholar. On account of his dissatisfaction, he makes a deal with the devil in exchange for his soul. The deal promises him a great deal of knowledge, and limitless pleasures of the world. However, he meets his tragic end, as the devil takes his soul after his death.

In fact, the legend of Faust presents an over-ambitious man, who surrenders his moral integrity for the achievement of worldly powers and success for a limited period of time. This kind of character teaches us the lessons of moral integrity, and the value of ethical uprightness.

Example #2: The Flying Dutchman

The Flying Dutchman is the legend of a ghost ship. According to the legend, the Flying Dutchman is cursed to never dock at a port, being doomed to sail in the oceans forever. It is likely that the legend has originated from the nautical folklore of the 17th century. The oldest surviving version of this legend dates back to the late 18th century. During the 19th and 20th centuries, there were reports of sighting the ship as a hull glowing with ghostly light. When another ship tried to make contact , the crew from the Flying Dutchman tried to send messages to land, or to people dead long ago. According to the lore, seeing the Flying Dutchman is an omen of doom.

Example #3: King Arthur

According to medieval histories, King Arthur was the British leader who led the British army against the invaders in the 5th and 6th centuries. It is mainly folklore that led to the composition of the legendary King Arthur story. Some literary inventions have been made in the story, but historical existence of King Arthur has always been questioned. There exist a few historical sources, such as the Annales Cambrige , the Historia Brittonum , and the writings of Gildas, which may be attributed as sources of the legend of King Arthur.

Function of Legend

In literature, the function of a legend is to present the story of human actions in such a way that they are perceived by the audience to be true. Actions are presented as if they have taken place within human history. For its audiences, a legend has to include happenings that are not outside the realm of possibility, but it may include miracles. Change has certainly occurred in legends over time, giving them a freshness, vitality, and a realistic taste. On the contrary, a large number of legends function in the realm of uncertainty; neither believed, nor doubted by the audiences.

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The Meaning of Myths, Folklore, Legends, and Fairy Tales

They cannot all be lumped together as mere fanciful tales

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The terms myth , folklore , legend , and fairy tale are often used interchangeably, leading to the misconception that they mean the same thing: fanciful tales. Although it's true that these terms may refer to bodies of writing that answer some of life's basic questions or present commentary on morality, each type presents a distinct reader experience. They've all stood the test of time, which speaks volumes about their ongoing hold on our imaginations.

A myth is a traditional story that may answer life's overarching questions, such as the origins of the world (the creation myth ) or of a people. A myth can also be an attempt to explain mysteries, supernatural events, and cultural traditions. Sometimes sacred in nature, a myth can involve gods or other creatures. It presents reality in dramatic ways.

Many cultures have their own versions of common myths that contain archetypal images and themes. One common myth that spans multiple cultures is that of a great flood. Myth criticism is used to analyze these threads in literature. A prominent name in myth criticism is that of the literary critic, professor, and editor Northrop Frye.

Folklore and Folktale

Whereas myth has at its core the origins of a people and is often sacred, folklore is a collection of fictional tales about people or animals. Superstitions and unfounded beliefs are important elements in the folklore tradition. Both myths and folklore were originally circulated orally.

Folktales describe how the main character copes with the events of everyday life, and the tale may involve crisis or conflict. These stories may teach people how to cope with life (or dying) and also have themes common among cultures worldwide. The study of folklore is called folkloristics. 

A legend is a story that's purported to be historical in nature but that is without substantiation. Prominent examples include King Arthur, Blackbeard , and Robin Hood. Where evidence of historical figures, such as  King Richard , actually exists, figures such as King Arthur are legends due in large part to the many stories that have been created about them.

Legend also refers to anything that inspires a body of stories or anything of lasting importance or fame. The story is handed down orally but continues to evolve with time. Much of early literature began as legend told and retold in epic poems that were passed down orally originally, then at some point written down. These include masterpieces such as the Greek Homeric Poems ("The Iliad" and "The Odyssey"), circa 800 BCE, to the French "Chanson de Roland," circa 1100 CE.

A fairy tale may involve fairies, giants, dragons, elves, goblins, dwarves, and other fanciful and fantastic forces. Although originally not written for children, in the most recent century, many old fairy tales have been "Disneyfied" to be less sinister and to appeal to kids. These stories have taken on lives of their own. In fact, many classic and contemporary books, such as "Cinderella," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Snow White," are based on fairy tales. But read the original Grimm brothers' fairy tales , for example, and you'll be surprised at the endings and how they differ from the versions that you may have grown up with. 

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• Myth and Explanations for Creation
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• The Legend of the Fifth Sun
• Fairy Tales and Fables Printables
• What Is Myth?
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• 'The Devil and Tom Walker' Study Guide

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Definition of Legend

Originated from Latin legendus , legend means “something which ought to be read.” According to J. A. Cuddon, a legend is “a story or narrative that lies somewhere between myth and historical fact and which, as a rule, is about a particular figure or person.” Traditionally, a legend is a narrative that focuses on a historically or geographically specific figure, and describes his exploits. Similar to a myth , a legend can provide an etymological narrative , often filling in historical gaps.

Difference Between a Legend and a Myth

There are marked differences between a legend and a myth . While legends are made up stories, myths are stories that answer questions about the working of natural phenomenon. Myths are set in olden times, even in pre-historic times. However, legends are stories about people and their actions, or deeds they perform to save their people or nations.

The people mentioned in legends might have lived in recent times, or sometime in known history. Legends are told to serve a specific purpose, and can be based on facts – but they are not completely true. People mentioned in a legend might not have really done what the story of the legend relates. In some cases, legends change the historical events.

King Arthur, Beowulf, and Queen Boadicea are some popular English legends. However, it is also important to understand that some of the stories about the Knights of the Round Table, and Merlin the Magician may not be true. The common point between a myth and a legend is that they both have been passed down from generation to generation in oral form.

Examples of Legend from Literature

Example #1: faust.

Faust is the major character in the classical German legend. According to the legend, Faust was a dissatisfied scholar. On account of his dissatisfaction, he makes a deal with the devil in exchange for his soul. The deal promises him a great deal of knowledge, and limitless pleasures of the world. However, he meets his tragic end, as the devil takes his soul after his death.

In fact, the legend of Faust presents an over-ambitious man, who surrenders his moral integrity for the achievement of worldly powers and success for a limited period of time. This kind of character teaches us the lessons of moral integrity, and the value of ethical uprightness.

Example #2: The Flying Dutchman

The Flying Dutchman is the legend of a ghost ship. According to the legend, the Flying Dutchman is cursed to never dock at a port, being doomed to sail in the oceans forever. It is likely that the legend has originated from the nautical folklore of the 17th century. The oldest surviving version of this legend dates back to the late 18th century. During the 19th and 20th centuries, there were reports of sighting the ship as a hull glowing with ghostly light. When another ship tried to make contact, the crew from the Flying Dutchman tried to send messages to land, or to people dead long ago. According to the lore, seeing the Flying Dutchman is an omen of doom.

Example #3: King Arthur

According to medieval histories, King Arthur was the British leader who led the British army against the invaders in the 5th and 6th centuries. It is mainly folklore that led to the composition of the legendary King Arthur story. Some literary inventions have been made in the story, but historical existence of King Arthur has always been questioned. There exist a few historical sources, such as the Annales Cambrige , the Historia Brittonum , and the writings of Gildas, which may be attributed as sources of the legend of King Arthur.

Function of Legend

In literature, the function of a legend is to present the story of human actions in such a way that they are perceived by the audience to be true. Actions are presented as if they have taken place within human history. For its audiences, a legend has to include happenings that are not outside the realm of possibility, but it may include miracles. Change has certainly occurred in legends over time, giving them a freshness, vitality, and a realistic taste. On the contrary, a large number of legends function in the realm of uncertainty; neither believed, nor doubted by the audiences.

Definition of Legend Originated from Latin legendus, legend means “something which need to be read.” According to J. A. Cuddon, a legend is “a story or narrative that lies somewhere among fantasy and ancient truth and which, as a rule, is approximately a selected figure or person.” Traditionally, a legend is a narrative that specializes in a traditionally or geographically specific determine, and describes his exploits. Similar to a fantasy, a legend can provide an etymological narrative, often filling in ancient gaps. Difference Between a Legend and a Myth There are marked differences among a legend and a fable. While legends are made up stories, myths are tales that answer questions on the working of natural phenomenon. Myths are set in olden times, even in pre-historic times. However, legends are stories about human beings and their movements, or deeds they carry out to shop their humans or nations. The people noted in legends might have lived in recent times, or someday in regarded history. Legends are advised to serve a selected purpose, and may be based totally on facts – however they may be not absolutely true. People referred to in a legend won't have honestly accomplished what the story of the legend relates. In a few cases, legends change the historical events. King Arthur, Beowulf, and Queen Boadicea are a few popular English legends. However, it is also important to recognize that some of the memories about the Knights of the Round Table, and Merlin the Magician might not be true. The commonplace point between a myth and a legend is they both had been exceeded down from era to technology in oral form. Examples of Legend from Literature Example #1: Faust Faust is the major man or woman in the classical German legend. According to the legend, Faust become a disillusioned scholar. On account of his dissatisfaction, he makes a cope with the devil in exchange for his soul. The deal promises him a terrific deal of knowledge, and countless pleasures of the world. However, he meets his tragic end, as the satan takes his soul after his death. In reality, the legend of Faust offers an over-ambitious man, who surrenders his ethical integrity for the success of worldly powers and fulfillment for a restrained length of time. This kind of man or woman teaches us the lessons of moral integrity, and the fee of moral uprightness. Example #2: The Flying Dutchman The Flying Dutchman is the legend of a ghost deliver. According to the legend, the Flying Dutchman is cursed to never dock at a port, being doomed to sail inside the oceans forever. It is probably that the legend has originated from the nautical folklore of the seventeenth century. The oldest surviving version of this legend dates back to the overdue 18th century. During the 19th and twentieth centuries, there were reports of sighting the deliver as a hull glowing with ghostly light. When another ship attempted to make contact, the crew from the Flying Dutchman attempted to send messages to land, or to humans useless lengthy ago. According to the lore, seeing the Flying Dutchman is an omen of doom. Example #3: King Arthur According to medieval histories, King Arthur become the British chief who led the British navy towards the invaders within the 5th and 6th centuries. It is especially folklore that led to the composition of the mythical King Arthur tale. Some literary inventions had been made inside the tale, however ancient lifestyles of King Arthur has always been questioned. There exist a few historic assets, consisting of the Annales Cambrige, the Historia Brittonum, and the writings of Gildas, which can be attributed as assets of the legend of King Arthur. Function of Legend In literature, the feature of a legend is to give the story of human movements in such a manner that they are perceived via the audience to be true. Actions are presented as if they've taken vicinity within human history. For its audiences, a legend has to encompass happenings that are not outside the area of possibility, however it could consist of miracles. Change has certainly passed off in legends over time, giving them a freshness, vitality, and a realistic taste. On the contrary, a massive range of legends feature within the realm of uncertainty; neither believed, nor doubted by means of the audiences.

• Alliteration
• Anachronism
• Antimetabole
• Aposiopesis
• Characterization
• Colloquialism
• Connotation
• Deus Ex Machina
• Didacticism
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Flash Forward
• Foreshadowing
• Internal Rhyme
• Juxtaposition
• Non Sequitur
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Poetic Justice
• Point of View
• Portmanteau
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Superlative
• Synesthesia
• Tragicomedy
• Tragic Flaw
• Verisimilitude

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Definition of legend

Examples of legend in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English legende , from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French legende , from Medieval Latin legenda , from Latin, feminine of legendus , gerundive of legere to gather, select, read; akin to Greek legein to gather, say, logos speech, word, reason

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing legend

• a legend in one's own time
• the stuff of legend
• urban legend
• living legend

Articles Related to legend

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Dictionary entries near legend, cite this entry.

“Legend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legend. Accessed 11 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of legend.

Middle English legende "a legend," derived from Latin legenda "something to be read," derived from earlier legere "to gather, read"

More from Merriam-Webster on legend

Nglish: Translation of legend for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of legend for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about legend

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Exploring Legends in Literature: From Ancient Myths to Modern Fantasy

By Happy Sharer

Introduction

The term “legend” is often used to refer to a story or narrative that has been passed down through generations. In literature, a legend is an imaginative and often symbolic narrative that is based on historical events. Legends often contain elements of truth, but they are also infused with myth and folklore. Legends are a significant part of literature, as they provide insight into the beliefs and values of different cultures. This article will explore the various types of legends found in literature and examine their impact on society.

Exploring Famous Legends Throughout History

Throughout history, there have been many famous legends that have captivated audiences around the world. For example, the story of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table is a well-known legend that has endured for centuries. Other popular legends include Robin Hood, Beowulf, and the Odyssey. These stories have been told and retold, inspiring countless adaptations and interpretations.

Legendary figures have had a profound effect on society. They serve as symbols of heroism, justice, and morality. Legends can inspire people to do great things and remind them of the importance of integrity and courage. Furthermore, they often reflect the values and beliefs of the culture that created them.

Investigating How Legends Have Shaped Culture

Legends come in many forms, including epic poetry, traditional folk tales, mythology, and fantasy. Epic poetry is a form of literature that tells the story of a hero’s journey and is often written in verse. Traditional folk tales are stories that were originally passed down orally and usually feature animals or mythical creatures as characters. Mythology is a collection of stories about gods and goddesses and other supernatural beings. Finally, fantasy is a genre of literature that features magical elements and otherworldly settings.

Each of these types of legends has had an influence on culture and society. Legends often contain moral messages or lessons that can be applied to everyday life. They can also provide insight into the values and beliefs of a particular culture, such as its attitudes toward gender roles or justice. Legends have also inspired artwork, music, and literature throughout the centuries.

Comparing Different Types of Legendary Literary Works

Epic poetry, traditional folk tales, mythology, and fantasy all have different characteristics that make them unique. Epic poems typically focus on a single heroic figure and narrate their journey in detail. Traditional folk tales are often humorous and feature anthropomorphic animals or mythical creatures as characters. Mythology often involves gods and goddesses and explores themes of creation and destruction. Fantasy, on the other hand, is more focused on the imaginative and often features magical elements and otherworldly settings.

These different types of literary legends have distinct styles and structures. Epic poetry tends to be written in elevated language and often contains long descriptions of battles and journeys. Traditional folk tales often follow a specific pattern of three acts and often contain elements of magic or the supernatural. Mythology is often written in a poetic style and focuses on the origin and meaning of life. Fantasy, meanwhile, is usually written in a straightforward style and often contains elements of adventure and exploration.

Analyzing the Impact of Legends on Society

Legends have had a profound influence on society. They often contain moral messages that can be applied to real-life situations. For example, the story of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table is a classic tale of justice and honor. Other legends, such as those found in mythology, can provide insight into the cultural values and beliefs of a particular society. For example, Greek mythology reflects the values of honor and respect for the gods.

Legends also often reflect the social norms of a particular time period. For example, in some versions of the legend of King Arthur, the female characters are portrayed as secondary to the male characters. This reflects the patriarchal culture of the Middle Ages, when women were often seen as subordinate to men.

Discussing the Role of Legends in Modern Literature

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of reinterpretations of classic legends in modern literature. Authors such as J.K. Rowling and Neil Gaiman have taken classic myths and legends and given them new life in their writing. Contemporary retellings of legends often focus on new themes and messages, such as feminism and environmentalism.

Legends are also often used as inspiration for fantasy novels and films. Many popular fantasy series, such as The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, draw upon classic legends and myths for their storylines. Legends can also be used to create new worlds and characters, as authors use them as a starting point for their own stories.

Legends have played an important role in literature throughout history. They are often based on historical events, but they are also infused with myth and folklore. Legends come in many forms, from epic poetry to traditional folk tales to mythology and fantasy. Each type of legend has had an influence on culture and society, reflecting the values and beliefs of the time period in which it was created.

Legends have also been used as inspiration for modern literature, as authors reinterpret classic myths and legends in new ways. Legends can also be used to create new worlds and characters in fantasy novels and films. Ultimately, legends are an essential part of literature and continue to play a significant role in our culture.

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Legend: Literary Genre

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A legend is a story coming down from the past, especially one popularly regarded as historical and true, although not verifiable.

Legend Definition

Legends are stories or groups of stories about people, or groups of people, that have been passed on throughout history. Legends may include supernatural beings or some elements of mythology, but they are generally told as a matter of history about a person or a place. Although legends are supposedly at least semi-true stories, they are often transformed over time in order to keep them interesting and relevant. Local legends often travel and change depending on where they are told.

In the English language, the term “legend” dates back to the early 1500s as a narrative story, usually about a saint. About one hundred years later, English-speaking Protestants began using it to imply that an event or person was not real.

Teaching about legends in the classroom gives students the opportunity to learn about how other countries tell stories, and how they are passed on and changed over many years. One activity in a writing unit could be to have students research well known legends, explain the elements of a legend, and then write their own. Another way to use legends in the classroom is to take an existing legend and change it in a new and creative way.

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Legend examples.

• King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
• Kamehameha and the Naha Stone

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The Legend of King Arthur Cruising Through History

King Arthur is one of the longest lasting legends in English history and widespread in the memory of the world. But did King Arthur we know of really exist? Scott and Zander delve into the history and literature of King Arthur. Like the show? Feel free to like, subscribe, or follow. Want to give us a suggestion? Email us at [email protected]

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by Marie Lu

Legend literary elements.

Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian

Setting and Context

Los Angeles, California, Republic of America

Narrator and Point of View

Legend is told from two different points of view. The narration alternates between June and Day, our central characters.

Tone and Mood

Somber, thrilling, revolutionary

Protagonist and Antagonist

The protagonists of Legend are Daniel “Day” Wing and June Iparis. While many different antagonists exist (for example, Thomas, Commander Jameson), the main, overarching villain is the corrupt, totalitarian Republic government.

Major Conflict

Day, an infamous criminal, is accused of killing June’s brother during a hospital break-in. June hunts down Day and in the process learns incriminating truths about her country that throw her life into disarray.

The climax of the book is the day of Day’s scheduled execution. Unbeknownst to him, June has partnered with the Patriots to save him and his brothers, thus jeopardizing her own standing in the Republic’s society.

Foreshadowing

A major example of foreshadowing happens early on in the book. Metias and Thomas drop June home after picking her up from school. Metias tells June that he will be home late because he has to oversee the lab at Los Angeles Central hospital. As he’s leaving June calls out behind him, “be careful.” She realizes what she said is pointless, because “Metias is too far away to hear [her]” (39). Shortly after this, Thomas kills Metias and Day is framed for the murder.

Understatement

Understatement occurs throughout the interactions June and Day have while Day is imprisoned in a Republic jail. For example, the first time June sees Day after Thomas beats him up, she tells Day he looks awful (324). Considering the beating that Thomas gave Day, that comment is a serious understatement. Another example would be Day asking June if something was bothering her right as June’s entire belief system and everything she thought she knew about her life and government was reduced to rumble (325).

There are multiple allusions throughout the book to the actual United States of America and its history. The warring states around the Republic are called “Colonies” and their fighters “Patriots.” In addition, the compulsory “Trial” that each Republic citizen must take is an allusion to the United States college entrance exam, the SAT. Similar to the Trial, your score on the SAT can determine your future and the opportunities available to you.

See "Imagery" section of the guide.

Parallelism

Day and June are parallels of one another, though they are products of different backgrounds and environments. They are the only two people known to have achieved perfect scores on the Trial. They both possess high levels of intelligence, good observation skills, and physical prowess. Finally, both of them have a predilection for rebelling against authority.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

Personification.

Legend Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Legend is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

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Legend packet crossword answers

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even though metias is angry with her for breaking the rules, why does he praise june

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Study Guide for Legend

Legend study guide contains a biography of Marie Lu, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Legend
• Legend Summary
• Character List

Wikipedia Entries for Legend

• Introduction

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of legend in English

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legend noun ( STORY )

• In the case of King Arthur, legend and truth are often inextricable .
• Her appetite for shopping became the stuff of legend.
• Their legends were passed from generation to generation .
• He collects Norse legends.
• The opera is based on an Icelandic legend.
• anti-narrative
• be another story idiom
• bodice-ripper
• broad brushstrokes
• cautionary tale
• misdescription
• multi-stranded
• running commentary phrase
• semi-legendary
• shaggy-dog story
• short story
• write something up

legend noun ( PERSON )

• celebrity The magazine is all about the lives of celebrities.
• celeb Which celeb recently spent $60,000 on an engagement ring?
• sleb UK She was last spotted interviewing a minor sleb on the red carpet.
• star Her ambition was always to become a movie star.
• superstar Rock superstar Elton John grew up working class in England.
• legend He became a legend in his own lifetime.
• She was a legend on Broadway.
• Miles Davis was a jazz legend.
• He was a legend among actors .
• Singing legend Shirley Bassey performed here.
• He was a legend in his own lifetime .
• Hippocrates
• household name
• Julius Caesar
• personality
• public figure

legend noun ( EXPLANATION )

• creative writing
• intertextual
• intertextuality
• intertextually
• self-portrait
• think piece
• uncaptioned
• versification

legend | Intermediate English

Legend noun ( fame ), examples of legend, translations of legend.

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to improve your position by going past other people quickly or by missing out some stages

Reunions and housewarmings (Words for different parties)

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The record-breaking legend of the man-eating werewolf king

Much like witches and vampires , the concept of the werewolf, a human who transforms into a wolf or wolf-like creature, is as old as humanity itself. 

The earliest depiction of a werewolf in history   dates back to ancient Greece, with the first literary reference to this mystic creature being found in The Histories by ancient geographer Herodotus. 

Composed in the Ionic dialect and recording the traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of several different cultures, Herodotus’ Histories was written roughly around 430 BC. 

A translated segment of his work reads: "It may be that these people are wizards; for the Scythians and the Greeks settled in Scythia, say that once a year every one of the Neuri becomes a wolf for a few days and changes back again to his former shape." 

Although with some notable differences from the modern werewolf, Herodotus left the earliest trace in literature of a human with the capacity to shapeshift into a wolf (earliest legends also report of humans turned into wolves, but without the possibility to ever change back to human form). 

The segment refers to an ancient tribe called Neuri, which likely settled in the Western Balkans.

Neighbours of the Scythians and allegedly forced out of their territory by an invasion of snakes, Herodotus describes the Neurian society and culture in a section of Book IV: Melpomene .

He also writes that according to rumours and tales passed on from local Greeks, the Neurians were a tribe of sorcerers who could annually turn themselves into werewolves for several days in a row. 

Although Herodotus affirms that such stories seem too far-fetched to be believable, he nonetheless reports their existence. 

The term "Lycan" likely comes from another ancient Greek myth: the story of Lycaon, King of Arcadia, which serves as a the first archetype for many werewolf legends. 

In an attempt to prove the divinity of the god Zeus, Lycaon served him a meal that included the human flesh of Nyctimus, the youngest of his own 50 sons – all to test if the almighty king of the Gods could tell the difference between the taste of human and animal flesh.

Disgusted and enraged, Zeus turned Lycaon into a wolf and restored Nyctimus’s life.

In The Metamorphoses, written by Roman poet Ovid around 8 CE, Lycaon instead slaughtered some hostages and served their flesh to Zeus to test the divinity of his guest. 

To punish the mortal's cruelty and to avenge the crime, Zeus turned him into a beast: and yet, even as he fled to the countryside, the king’s eyes were still aflame with bloodlust and ferocity.

Such was the punishment for the king who dared challenge the gods.

 …He tried to speak, but his voice broke into an echoing howl. His ravening soul infected his jaws; his murderous longings were turned on the cattle; he still was possessed by bloodlust. His garments were changed to a shaggy coat and his arms into legs. He was now transformed into a wolf. - English translation of a  passage from The Metamorphoses

Although the tale of King Lycaon has been often rearranged and present several differences between its many versions, the core of this myth laid the foundation for the concept of lycanthropy. 

But it was the Roman Petronius, in a famous passage of the Satyricon,  who first introduced another element that today we associate with werewolves: a man turning into a wolf as "the moon shone like high noon".

"He made a ring of water round his clothes and suddenly turned into a wolf," continues the passage.

Later, the full moon became explicitly linked with werewolf transformations.

The dichotomy between human and beastly impulses continued to fascinate, and the figure of men-wolves has persisted in folklore and literature through the ages. 

The modern word ‘werewolf’ stems from an Old English term, ‘wer’ meaning ‘man’: the word were-wolf, hence, translates directly into man-wolf.

A similar idiom can be found in several other languages:

• the German werwulf
• the Italian lupo mannaro (from the Latin lupus hominarius )
• the French loup-garou 
• the vargr in Icelandic (interestingly, the term  vargr had a negative connotation also meaning "outlaw" or "monster," as opposed to the word "wolf") 

The earliest usage of the word werewolf can be found in the Ecclesiastical Ordinances of King Cnut (also known as Canute).

The ruler of the Anglo-Scandinavian Empire (1016-1035) released two complementary law codes, today known as The Laws of Cnut.

These laws mention the presence of werewolves, although it is important to notice that they did not refer to the modern concept of a shapeshifting creature.

Such mentions of werewolves might have been synonymous with outlaws  or even of devils , with a symbolic and religious meaning of 'evil'. 

"Therefore must be the shepherds be very watchful," reads the section, "that the madly audacious werewolf do not too widely devastate, nor bite too many of the spiritual flock."

After that, several cases of werewolves have been reported all around the world: be it hysteria, medical conditions or whispers of magic, we can't but look back to Herodotus for that first, record-breaking, mention of man-wolves. 

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Willie Nelson looks back on 7 decades of songwriting in new book ‘Energy Follows Thought’

FILE - Willie Nelson performs at the Producers & Engineers Wing 12th Annual GRAMMY Week Celebration in Los Angeles on Feb. 6, 2019. The country legend’s new book, “Energy Follows Thought,” gives the stories behind his most famous songs. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - This Nov. 20, 2012 file photo shows country music legend Willie Nelson on NBC’s “Today” show in New York. The country legend’s new book, “Energy Follows Thought,” gives the stories behind his most famous songs. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Willie Nelson performs at New York’s Radio City Music Hall Thursday night in the first of six sold-out concerts, May 25, 1984. The country legend’s new book, “Energy Follows Thought,” gives the stories behind his most famous songs. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

This cover image released by William Morrow shows “Energy Follows Thought” by Willie Nelson, with David Ritz and Mickey Raphael. (William Morrow via AP)

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Willie starts with the words.

It’s one of the surprising revelations in Willie Nelson ‘s new book, “Energy Follows Thought: The Stories Behind My Songs,” an examination of the 90-year-old country legend and soon-to-be Rock & Roll Hall of Famer ‘s seven decades of songwriting.

While his guitar is practically an extension of his body at this point, he has always started the writing process by thinking up words rather than strumming chords. To him, it’s doing the hard part first.

“The melodies are easier to write than the words,” Nelson told The Associated Press in an interview ahead of Tuesday’s release of his book.

He does not, however, write those words down, not even on a napkin.

“I have a theory,” he said, “that if you can’t remember ‘em, it probably wasn’t that good.”

Nelson actually started out as a poet of sorts. At age 6 in Depression-era Texas, he composed a verse in response to the looks he got when he picked his nose and got a nosebleed while standing in front of his church congregation.

“My poem was, ‘What are you looking at me for? I ain’t got nothin to say, if you don’t like the looks of me, look some other way,’” he recalled 84 years later. “That was the beginning.”

He started writing songs soon after.

When he became a superstar in middle age in the mid-1970s, Nelson would be best known for his dynamic live performances and his guitar and vocal stylings.

But as a young man in the 1950s and early ‘60s, he was best known as one of the struggling songsmiths who spent their days and nights at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville.

In 1961, three of his songs became hits for other artists: Billy Walker’s “Funny How Time Slips Away,” Faron Young’s “Hello Walls” and, most importantly, Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” a song that would become a signature for her and both a financial boon and an ego boost for him.

“Because Patsy liked it, I was poor no longer,” he writes in the book. “This particular ‘Crazy’ convinced me, at a time when I wasn’t a hundred percent sure of my writing talent, that I’d be crazy to stop writing.”

He would go on to make other writers’ songs his own in the same way. He didn’t write most of the biggest hits associated with him, which came in the 1970s and 80s: “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” “Always on My Mind.”

He almost seemed to retire from songwriting when fame finally came to him in the Outlaw Country era, enjoying the chance to record his favorite old standards or the compositions of hot young writers.

But he never stopped composing entirely. Director Sydney Pollack prodded him to write a new song for the 1980 Nelson-starring film “Honeysuckle Rose,” on which Pollack was an executive producer.

Nelson responded by writing — words first — “On The Road Again.”

Pollack was less than thrilled with the lyrics in isolation: “The life I love is makin’ music with my friends, and I can’t wait to get on the road again.”

But was pleased when he heard the chugging music that suggested a train, or a tour bus.

And Nelson would appreciate the nudge.

“Without knowing or trying, in a few little lines, I’d written the story of my life,” he says in the book.

But the songs did get fewer and farther between. More than performing, songwriting can be a young man’s game.

“I don’t write as much as I used to,” he told the AP. “The ideas don’t come that quick. I still write now and then.”

He did recently write the song that gives the name to his book, “Energy Follows Thought,” for his 2022 album, “A Beautiful Time.”

In it, Nelson and co-authors David Ritz and Mickey Raphael give brief backstories to 160 different songs he’s written through the years.

It wasn’t prompted by any great sense of reflection.

“Some of my business guys thought it would be a good thing to do,” Nelson said.

Nelson in 2012. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

The year of his 90th birthday has been overloaded with events. He was feted by a fellow stars, including Neil Young and Snoop Dogg, in a two-night celebration at the Hollywood Bowl in the summer.

And on Friday, the same week the book is released, he’ll be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Last year, fellow country legend Dolly Parton got a spot in the hall, and had mixed feelings about whether she belonged, even turning down the honor at first.

But Nelson, whose whole body of work has been built on ignoring the lines between genres, has no such problem.

“You can get rock ‘n’ roll in country, rock and roll in any kind of music,” he said.

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• Burden of proof:...

Burden of proof: combating inaccurate citation in biomedical literature

• Related content
• Peer review
• Nicholas Peoples , MD student 1 ,
• Truls Østbye , vice chair (research) and professor 2 ,
• Lijing L Yan , professor and head of non-communicable disease research 3
• 1 Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
• 2 Family Medicine and Community Health, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
• 3 Global Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China
• Correspondence to: [email protected]

Inappropriate, misleading, missing, and inaccurate citations pervade the biomedical literature. Nicholas Peoples and colleagues argue that new strategies can better enable scientific references to function as an accurate web of knowledge

Key messages

Up to 25% of all citations in the general scientific literature are inaccurate and mislead physicians, academics, and policy makers

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) powered large language models such as ChatGPT has the potential to both enable and mitigate inaccurate citation on a scale not previously possible

Researchers need new strategies to ensure that scientific references function as an accurate web of knowledge

We make the case that peer reviewed journals consider adopting a required statement on the integrity of cited literature, using the adoption of required conflict of interest statements as a proof of concept

Even without a name, it is a devil we all know: an article cites a source that does not support the statement in question, or, more commonly, the initial reference sends the reader down a rabbit hole of references, the bottom of which is difficult to find and interpret. This causes two problems. Firstly, it may propagate data that are false, misinterpreted, or both, spurring “academic urban legends” that become circulated as truth. 1 This delays true results from reaching the literature and allows incorrect ideas to masquerade as facts. Second, it undermines respect for the process of literature review, effacing the foundation of good scientific inquiry into a mere box ticking exercise. This cheapens the value of background and discussion sections in scholarly articles and encourages trainees and young investigators to practise sloppy research.

These errors might be especially problematic for doctors and the general public, “who are not focused on the scientific study of a narrow research topic and thus are less prone to identify rhetorically misleading statements or …