Legend: A Literary Genre

Legend: Etymology

The term “legend” has its etymological origins in the Latin word “legenda,” which refers to things to be read. It later evolved through Old French into Middle English, acquiring the meaning of a story or narrative that is to be read or recited. In contemporary usage, “legend” denotes a traditional narrative often involving extraordinary or mythical elements, passed down through generations.

Legend: Literal and Conceptual Meanings

Literal Meaning	Conceptual Meaning
– Derives from Latin “legenda,” meaning “things to be read”	– Refers to a traditional narrative or story passed down over time
– Evolved through Old French and Middle English	– Often involves extraordinary or mythical elements
– Originally meant something to be read or recited	– Carries cultural significance and is transmitted through generations

Legend: Definition as a Literary Device/Genre

In literature, a legend serves as a narrative form that encompasses both historical and mythical elements, typically recounting the extraordinary deeds or adventures of heroic figures. Often transmitted orally and later recorded in written form, legends contribute to a cultural repository of shared stories that carry moral, cultural, or societal significance. Through their enduring nature, legends shape collective identities, impart cultural values, and provide a lens through which societies interpret their past.

Legend: Types

Type	Description	Example
Heroic Legends	Narratives focusing on the extraordinary exploits and adventures of heroic figures, often possessing superhuman qualities and embodying virtues admired by a society.	The legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Folk Legends	Stories passed down through generations within a community, reflecting the cultural beliefs, traditions, and values of a specific group or region.	The Native American legend of the creation of the Milky Way.
Historical Legends	Narratives blending historical events with mythical elements, creating a semi-historical account that contributes to the cultural understanding of a specific time period.	The legend of Robin Hood, combining historical and legendary elements.
Religious Legends	Narratives embedded within religious traditions, recounting the lives and deeds of revered figures or explaining the origins of religious practices.	The biblical legend of Moses parting the Red Sea.
Urban Legends	Modern stories circulating within communities, often centered around unusual or supernatural events, presented as real incidents, and shaping contemporary folklore.	The urban legend of the vanishing hitchhiker.
Literary Legends	Legends created within literary works, where authors invent mythical stories or characters to convey symbolic meanings or explore cultural themes.	J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium in “The Lord of the Rings.”
Origin Legends	Stories explaining the beginnings of natural phenomena, geographical features, or cultural practices, providing a mythic context for the world’s existence.	The Greek myth of the creation of the world by Chaos.
National Legends	Narratives contributing to a nation’s identity, recounting events or figures considered pivotal in the formation of the nation and its values.	The American legend of Paul Revere’s midnight ride.
Moral or Didactic Legends	Stories conveying moral lessons or ethical principles through the experiences and actions of characters, often aimed at instructing or inspiring the audience.	Aesop’s Fables, such as “The Tortoise and the Hare.”
Mythical Legends	Narratives involving gods, goddesses, and supernatural beings, often explaining the creation of the world, the origins of humanity, and the forces governing the universe.	The Hindu legend of the churning of the ocean to obtain the elixir of life.

Legend: Examples in Everyday Life

1. Heroic Legends:
   • Modern Heroes: Stories of everyday individuals overcoming immense challenges, akin to the hero’s journey, such as tales of resilience in the face of adversity.
2. Folk Legends:
   • Local Folklore: Urban legends or traditional stories shared within a community, like the tale of a haunted house or the mysterious figure who once lived nearby.
3. Historical Legends:
   • Founding Stories: Narratives surrounding historical events that have taken on legendary status, such as the founding fathers’ exploits in the American Revolution.
4. Religious Legends:
   • Miraculous Accounts: Stories within religious traditions, like the miraculous deeds attributed to saints or figures in various faiths.
5. Urban Legends:
   • Modern Myths: Contemporary stories shared in everyday conversations, like the cautionary tales of hitchhiking ghosts or eerie occurrences in abandoned places.
6. Literary Legends:
   • Fictional Worlds: Legends created within literary works that captivate readers, such as the enduring legacy of characters like Sherlock Holmes or Harry Potter.
7. Origin Legends:
   • Cultural Creation Stories: Myths explaining the origins of cultural practices or natural features, like stories about the creation of local landmarks or traditional ceremonies.
8. National Legends:
   • National Heroes: Stories that contribute to a nation’s identity, like legendary accounts of leaders, war heroes, or pivotal moments in a country’s history.
9. Moral or Didactic Legends:
   • Aesop’s Fables: Timeless moral tales, such as “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” providing lessons on honesty, integrity, and the consequences of one’s actions.
10. Mythical Legends:
    • Creation Myths: Stories explaining the origin of the world, humanity, and natural phenomena, like the Norse myth of the creation of the cosmos.

Legend in Literature: Suggested Readings

1. Tolkien, J.R.R. The Silmarillion. Houghton Mifflin, 1977.
2. Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. Grand Central Publishing, 2011.
3. Gaiman, Neil. Norse Mythology. W. W. Norton & Company, 2017.
4. Malory, Sir Thomas. Le Morte d’Arthur. Oxford University Press, 2010.
5. Riordan, Rick. Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. Disney Hyperion, 2005-2009.
6. Chretien de Troyes. Arthurian Romances. Penguin Classics, 1991.
7. Bulfinch, Thomas. Bulfinch’s Mythology. Modern Library, 1998.
8. Garcia Marquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Harper & Row, 1970.
9. Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter series. Scholastic, 1997-2007.