Unlike a fairy tale, a legend is associated with real history and real terrain. The events described in it are necessarily projected onto reality. This is a fantastic event of a real event or phenomenon. It can be both an independent literary work and the basis for theatricalization or role-playing. Quite often, a legend becomes an integral part of the lifestyle of a non-existent person.
Instructions
Step 1
Find a grip on reality. It can be an interesting natural object, an unusual household item, an old book, and much more. In fact, absolutely anything can become the basis for a legend. After all, even a simple aluminum spoon could be used by a person who accomplished some feat.
Step 2
Think about what your legend will unfold around. This could be an event, for example. You must choose an eyewitness for him. This should be a well-known and authoritative person for your future readers or listeners. Such an authority can be a ruler, a famous explorer, a famous traveler, or someone from their inner circle. For example, "once Tsar Peter Alekseevich was driving along the seashore and saw a stone falling from the sky." After the stone fell, a pit was formed in the ground, which eventually turned into a hollow overgrown with grass. In this case, it is desirable to know the nature of the alleged eyewitness. He should have paid attention to a similar phenomenon.
Step 3
An event may have a backstory - a chain of other events that are vivid enough to be remembered. It can be an enemy invasion, a famine year, the arrival of a famous person, etc. For example, once in a hungry year, a shaman brought a dead deer as a gift to the gods. The gods got angry and turned the shaman into a rock, and the deer into a swamp, hence its name - the Deer Swamp, and the locals do not go there. An event-based legend usually ends with it. It is short enough and lacks details.
Step 4
You can think of a hero of the legend. It should be the focus of many positive qualities. But for the sharpness of the plot, you can add some flaws to his image. It can be a great mighty warrior who has some weaknesses. Or a written beauty, not distinguished by ingenuity.
Step 5
Think about what forces could have opposed your hero. Any legend is built on the confrontation of such forces. The victory of the good beginning over the evil in the legend is never complete and final. The controversial moment, not fully resolved by the legend, ultimately turns into a timeless monument or artifact. It could be a constellation in the sky, a river, the northern lights, or another natural phenomenon.
Step 6
Enter the mediator component. This role can be played by gods, wizards, monsters. They negotiate with the hero about the price of his success. The mediator can be an inanimate object, including the legend artifact itself. He fulfills the request of the hero, but asks for something in return - a part of the body, a character trait, the most precious thing, or that which the hero does not know at home. In this case, the taken away can also become part of the legend, turning into a stream or a star in the sky.
Step 7
Draw up a storyline. The plot of the legend looks like a short and understandable action. It can be a battle between a hero and a monster, the kidnapping of a beauty, an attempt to get a treasure. The result should be ambiguous. You have to pay a serious price for the victory, for the acquired artifact you have to lose something. The main characters don't necessarily stay alive. In this case, the loss can again materialize into a natural object, phenomenon or artifact, which is shown to the audience as another proof of the legend's existence. Thus, the circular principle is implemented, when the reason for the story is at the same time proof of its reality.
