: Re: What are the components of a legend (in the sense of a tale, not a figure legend)? I'm compiling in-world legends for my built world, and would like them to feel like established legends from

@Odierno164

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I think of legends and mythology (I took a college elective on it) as being about black-and-white extremes, like writing for children too young to process nuance, too young to appreciate flawed heroes or sympathetic villains. Hercules is the good guy. Heaven and Hell, Mount Olympus or the Underworld, are polar opposites, it is either 100% good or 100% bad. God is great, Satan is completely evil.

Other than that, the story structure is much the same. Joseph Campbell's The Hero's Journey applies; he derived it from studying myths and legends. It fits neatly into the Three Act Structure, but contains more detail.

Myths and legends are used to teach idealistic life lessons (now and always have been), in particular to young children, in an entertaining and memorable way. Hence the demand for simplicity and extremes in motive; and a lack of nuance, a streamlined plot structure without side-trips or dithering. By "idealistic" I mean the hero is brave, intrepid, and puts himself above others. If he acts selfishly, he is punished until he makes amends. But he doesn't give up! Evil gets vanquished. The Wizard helps the hero because the hero is righteous, or has a good heart. Heroes may be clever and outsmart the monster or villain, but only the villain's actually cheat or break their word.

Now I suspect you may find exceptions to that in actual myths or legends. Aladdin may win the princess by employing clever lies; but in the end Aladdin has a good heart and a true love so this is forgivable; he is not lying to trick the princess into a romp in the hay.

But the principles hold. Think of the legend as an idealistic story for prepubescent children, in which the hero has (or develops) several traits of the best mankind has to offer: In particular bravery and altruism, self-sacrifice to do what is right or to punish what is wrong. They protect and defend good women and children. The gods are on their side.

Make sure the villain and obstacles have the worst traits of man or nature. The villain is a duplicitous liar, cheat and fraudster. A trickster. Perhaps they will kill without compunction, mercy or regret. The storms are ruthlessly violent, the desert is blistering hot. The obstacles are literally lethal monsters that must be killed for the greater good.

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