THE 6 MAIN TYPES OF LEGENDS - LITERATURE - 2025

The types of legends can be classified according to the main element. In this sense, there are legends in which the central element is a hero or a historical person (such as the stories of Robin Hood or King Arthur).

There are also legends that revolve around curious places whose peculiarities attract people's attention. Some examples of these legends are those of Atlantis, Avalon, the Bermuda Triangle, among others.

Certain legends feature objects. Such is the case of the legends about the philosopher's stone, that of the Excalibur sword and that of Clarent.

Finally, some stories focus on animals or beasts, such as the Loch Ness monster, the chupacabra, and the snowman.

On the other hand, legends can also be classified according to the environment in which they take place. In this case, medieval legends (such as those of King Arthur) and urban legends stand out.

Types of legends according to the main element

1- Hero, heroine or historical figure

In this type of legends, the most prominent element is a hero or a heroine. On many occasions, he is a historical figure whose exploits were exaggerated and magnified over the years.

An example of this is King Arthur, whose history dates back to the 5th or 6th century. The legend of Arthur begins when he becomes the rightful king of England by drawing a sword stuck in a rock.

The king was mortally wounded by his son Mordred. However, some stories maintain that he did not die but was transformed into a crow, while others claim that he is found on an island called Avalon.

The image of King Arthur that we have today was created from the writings of dozens of authors, Sir Thomas Malory being one of those who contributed more information to this legend.

Despite the fact that history does not keep a true record of this king, it is considered that Arthur's stories were inspired by King Ambrose Aureliano or the Roman general Lucius Artorius Castus.

2- Famous place

Many legends revolve around a famous place or one that is part of popular culture. This site can be real (like the Bermuda Triangle) or fictional (like the sunken city of Atlantis).

An example of this type of legends is that of Avalon, an island that is not affected by the passage of time, in which there is no disease or poverty.

One of the first references to this island is found in Geoffrey de Monmouth's text "The History of the Kings of Great Britain."

Here it is stated that Avalon means "apple island", a name attributed to it because the fruits grow naturally, without the intervention of labor.

This legend is related to the story of Arthur. It is said that after the king was wounded by his son Mordred, he was taken to Avalon, where his wounds were healed. According to some stories, Arturo is still on the island waiting to lead his army again.

3- Mystical object

The legends surrounding objects with mystical powers are some of the most famous. One of the best known is that of Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur.

According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, the sword was forged in Avalon. In some legends, it is indicated that Arthur obtained this sword by drawing it from a stone in which it was embedded. Other legends indicate that it was the Lady of the Lake who gave the sword to Arthur when he was already king.

Clarent is another sword that is related to the legend of Excalibur and King Arthur. This sword was forged not for war but for peaceful ceremonies. However, it was stolen by Mordred, who used it to wound Arthur.

4- Monster or animal

There are hundreds of legends that take monsters as their main element. The legend of the Loch Ness monster is one of the best known of its kind.

This story focuses on Scotland, United Kingdom, where this lake is located. The legend states that there lives a large aquatic beast, with fins and a snake head.

Many claim to have seen the creature. There are even photographic records in which the silhouette of the monster can supposedly be seen. However, these images are not reliable.

Types of legends according to the environment in which they are developed

1- Medieval legend

Medieval legends are those that unfold in the Middle Ages, from the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century to the taking of Constantinople in the 15th century.

The greatest exponents of this type of legends are the stories related to the court of King Arthur and the court of Carlo Magno.

Among these, we find the story of Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot. Guinevere was the wife of King Arthur and Lancelot was one of his sworn knights. A love relationship emerged between these two characters.

2- Urban legend

Urban legends are contemporary. Its beginning dates back to the 19th century. However, they are subject to continuous modifications, so that people continue to identify with the stories told there.

The protagonists of this type of legends are usually ghosts that roam the most uninhabited areas of cities, attacking the unwary.

One of the most common examples of urban legends is that of a beautiful girl in the middle of a lonely place who asks any car that passes by for a ride.

In some countries, legend has it that the girl gets in the car and remains silent until the end of the journey.

When you get out of the car, it disappears. In other countries, the legend says that the girl seduces men. If they succumb to the charms of the specter, then they will be killed.

References

1. Legend. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from wikipedia.org
2. Myths and Legends. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from bbc.co.uk
3. Myth and Legend. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from homeofbob.com
4. 6 Historical Figures Who May or May Not Have Existed. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from history.com
5. Avalon. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from wikipedia.org
6. List of Mythological Objects. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from wikipedia.org
7. Excalibur. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from wikipedia.org