Legends

A legend is a story that many people believe but cannot be proven true. Historical
events and heroes with extraordinary abilities are featured in legends. The culture
and traditions of the people from which the legend originated are also key
components of the story.
As with other forms of stories, a legend also aims to teach the readers some
lessons while entertaining them. Since legends are handed down through
generations, the story line may have changed over time.

Elements of a Legend
To better understand legends, it is important to be familiar with its elements. These
elements are the following:

Characters

Setting

Plot

Theme

Characters

The characters are persons or participants in the story that are given human
qualities. In legends, the characters are heroes who are known for their bravery
and other noble attributes. Though legends are known to be historical or feature
snippets of truth, the heroes are given extraordinary abilities for them to carry out
their exceptional tasks.

Examples:
Bernardo Carpio, Maria
Explanation:
Bernardo Carpio and Maria are characters because they are actors or participants
in the story.
Setting

The setting is the time when and the place where the story happens. Legends
occur in fantastic places depending on the storys place of origin. It sometimes
presents a mystical vibe to support the character's superhuman qualities and his
extraordinary adventure.
Examples:
before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, mountains of Rizal
Explanation:
The phrase before the Spaniards came to the Philippines states the time the story
happened, and the phrase mountains of Rizal states the place.
Plot

The plot is the story line or the successive flow of events in a story Legends,
although presented as historical, may or may not be factual due to embellishment
of events.
Examples:
1. A cruel king learns of his sister's affair with his political rival.
2. The king ordered the imprisonment of his sister and the murder of his rival.

3. The king also ordered that the couple's son, Bernardo Carpio, be trapped by a
shaman in between two mountains.
4. Bernardo Carpio pushes the two mountains apart, and it is said that this causes
earthquakes.

Explanation:
The events above are written in the order that they happened in the story. This
shows the plot.
Theme

The theme is the moral of the story or the message that the story brings to the
reader. Legends may also be about how something came to exist or happen.
Example:
why earthquakes happen
Explanation:
Since legends may be about how something came to exist or occur, why
earthquakes happen may be a theme of a legend.

A legend is a story that features historical events. Although perceived by

many as true, a legend cannot be proven as such.

The elements of a legend are characters, setting, plot, and theme.

Myths
Myths are stories that attempt to explain certain events in ones traditions and
culture. These are stories that have been passed on through generations. There
are different myths that exist today, but they vary depending on the place of origin.
Several famous myths came from the Greek and Roman culture.

Elements of a Myth
As with every literary work, identifying the elements of a myth is key to
understanding it. The elements of a myth are the following:

Setting

Characters

Plot

Theme

Setting

The setting is where the story occurs or the time that it happens. Myths frequently
revolve around adventure and nature. That is why settings for such stories involve
places that carry the same feel or ambiance of nature.
Examples:
in the mountains, in the forest, long ago
Explanation:
The phrases in the mountains and in the forest state the place in which the story
happens, and the phrase long ago states the time.
Characters

The characters are the persons or participants in the story that act out human
qualities. In myths, the characters consist of gods or goddesses and heroes that
possess supernatural powers. Because of this, the story line of myths usually
involve magic that the characters use in different ways, such as by forming

disguises. But even with their superhuman capabilities, they still experience and
express human emotions.
Examples:
Zeus, Hera, Venus
Explanation:
Zeus, Hera, and Venus are characters because they are the actors or participants
in the story.
Plot

The plot is the story line or the successive flow of events in the story, from start to
finish. Usually, myths try to explain the different events and religious practices that
happen in ones history. They also demonstrate mans desire to explain the
universe and its beginnings.
Example:
1. Sisyphus was disobedient to the gods.
2. The gods decided to punish him.
3. He was tasked to roll a huge rock up a hill and just watch it roll down.
4. He spent his days doing this repetitive task.
Explanation:
The events above are written in the order that they happened in the story. This
shows the plot.
Theme

The theme is the message or the moral of the story. Because myths are often
rooted in religion or other mystical beliefs, they often include lessons for the
readers.
Example:
The wicked are punished.
Explanation:
The wicked are punished is the message that an author wants the reader to realize
from reading the story.

Fables

A fable is a literary piece that is created to entertain and teach about moral values.
What makes a fable different from other types of stories is that its characters are
mainly animals, plants, trees, and mythical creatures that are given human qualities
and abilities such as talking, dancing, crying, and others. These characters
communicate and do human actions.

Just like other works of literature, fables also have several elements. These
elements complete the literary piece and make it more interesting for the readers.

Elements of a Fable

Characters: the participants in the story; composed of animals and other

inanimate objects that talk, sing, and do other human actions

Setting: the place where and the time when the events in the story took
place

Plot: consists of the different events in the fable

Theme: the moral of the story or the message behind the story

To appreciate a fable, the reader must be able to identify the different elements
successfully.
Example:
The following is one of Aesop's fables.
Once, there was a foolish stag who wanted to drink water from a lake in the forest.
As he bent down to drink, he saw the reflection of his antlers.
Why! What a beautiful set of antlers I have, he said. He was very proud of his
antlers. Then his eyes gazed on the reflection of his legs. If only my legs were not
like these, he sadly remarked. He was very ashamed of his legs. He cursed his
legs for their ugliness.
Suddenly, a starving lion came and attempted to eat him. He ran to escape, but his
antlers got entwined with the one of the branches of a small tree. The stag tried so
hard to free them, but he failed to do so. He was caught by the hungry lion and was
eaten.

Explanation:
Characters: stag (main character), lion
Setting: in the forest
Plot:
1. The stag saw his reflection in the water in the lake.
2. The stag praised his antlers but cursed his legs.
3. A lion came and chased after the stag.
4. As the stag was running, his antlers got entwined with one of the low
branches of a tree.
5. The stag was caught and was eaten by the lion.
Theme: What is truly valuable is often underappreciated.

ead this famous fable by Aesop then answer the succeeding questions after.
Once, in a forest near a famous pond, a hare was boasting of his speed before the
other animals.
"I have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge
anyone here to race with me."
The tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge."
"That is a good joke," said the hare. "I could dance around you all the way."
"Keep your boasting till you have won," answered the tortoise. "Shall we race?"

So a course was fi xed and a start was made. The hare darted almost
out of sight at once, but he soon stopped, and to show his contempt
for the tortoise, he lay down to have a nap. The tortoise plodded on
and on, and when the hare awoke from his nap, he saw the tortoise
just near the fi nish line and could not run up in time to save the race.
Then the tortoise said, "The slow and steady wins the race."