: 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

@Goswami879

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Legends are defined by the cultures who created them

Legends reflect the values of their culture. Sacred hospitality and the inevitability of fate were popular themes for the Greeks. The Norse Eddas focus on personal sacrifice for power and knowledge several times. Russian fairy tales celebrate kind fools. Some cultures revere tricksters, other demonize them.

Legends often have poetic forms

Legends generally begin life as oral traditions. Poetic forms make it easier to remember long stories, so they're very common among the large epics. But it depends on the type of story being told. An epic tale told by a master storyteller will be poetic - a fairy tale told by a parent won't be. (Although there can be a certain rhythm to children's stories as well).

The exact forms will be different from culture to culture, and will be shaped by the nature of the language.

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