Writing Myths & Legends

Jeremy ThompsonIntermediate Language Arts

What is a Legend?Set in the present or

recent past.

Are supposedly true, and used to scare, teach, inform, or entertain.

May be based on true events, but are changed or

exaggerated over time.

Handed down from generation to generation,

usual through an oral history.

Explain why a natural occurrence occurs

Example: Sasquatch (bigfoot)

Did you know that the Sasquatch was believed to

live in the forests of Washington state?

Example: Johnny Appleseed

Legend Fact

Was well-known for his kindness to animals and people.

Had a business planting apple orchards across the frontier.

John Chapman

Talked to animals.

Wandered frontier barefoot, giving people apples.

Possibly based on an actual person, or even several people, in ancient Britain.

Stories were told, retold, exaggerated, changed, and added to over hundreds of years.

Used to teach moral lessons about chivalry.

Example: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

What is a Myth?

A traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some hero or event, that people believe is true at

the time.

Usually contains non-human characters (gods,

demons, demigods)

Explains some practice, rite, phenomenon, or why something is the way it is.

Example: Pandora’s Box

How evil came into the world

Example: Persephone & Demeter

Why winter comes each year

Example: Orpheus

Loss is inevitable

Myths do not need to have happy endings.

In fact, most of them end very, very badly.

Writing your Myth or Legend

Choose something from the class map that your myth or

legend will explain.

Choose a character.Myth = non-humanLegend = human

Complete a story map/planning

sheet.

The solution of your story should explain how the item from the map you chose came to be.

Begin writing.

Myth

Your character (non-human) should have supernatural

powers.

Your Myth should explain how or

why something in this world exists.

Legend

Your character (human) should have realistic

human qualities.

Your Legend should explain something, or

teach some kind of moral lesson.