English is a language that has numerous minor and major sections that makes it very complex. You can learn something every day and improve the way to speak, write or use this language to express yourself. Today, you will be learning about Legend. This is basically originated from the Latin word “Legendus”. The word refers to something that you ought to read. The experts refer to legend as a story or a narrative that is not a myth but consists of historical facts. The legend can be about a person or any specific figure.
A legend has a similarity with the myth – it has an etymological narrative. It helps in bridging the gap between the historical facts.
Examples of Legend Narrative Text
1. The Legend of Bali Strait
“Long time ago in Daha Kingdom, lived a great Brahma named Sidi Mantra. He had a son named Manik Angkeran who fell in big debt due to gamble. Sidi Mantra knew about the treasure in Agung Mountain that was safeguarded by Besukih Dragon. With a bell in his hand, Sidi Mantra recited a spell to call the dragon. Once the dragon came out, Sidi Mantra asked for help. The dragon agreed to give him gold.
Manik Angkeran was so happy to see the gold but greed made him want more. He stole his father bell and go to Agung Mountain to meet the dragon himself. After the dragon gave him gold, he became greedier and cut the tail of the dragon to get more. The dragon got angry and burnt him to death.
Sidi Mantra felt so sad and ask the dragon to bring his son back to life. The dragon agreed as long as he could get tail back. With his power, Sidi Mantra got the dragon’s tail back and Manik Angkeran alive.
Although Manik Angkeran felt sorry, Sidi Mantra knew they could not live together again. He put a stick on the ground between him and his son. Suddenly, water came out from the ground and became strait, which separates Bali Island and Java Island.”
2. The Story of BauNyale in Lombok
“Once upon a time, in Lombok, there was a kingdom named Kuripan that was led by a wise king. The princess or the daughter of the king was so beautiful. Her name was Princess Mandalika. There were many princes wanted to marry Mandalika. However, the king was confused because too many princes came and proposed. Because of that reason, the king held an arrow competition. He promised that the winner had the chance to marry with his beloved daughter.
Just like expected, on the competition day, many princes came and participated. They had a good skill on arrow, so all of them were perfectly hit the target. The king became more confuse. Because there was no clear decision, the princes started to fight each other. Princess Mandalika was desperate. The beautiful princess did want to find anyone got killed. So, she then decided to go to the beach. She cried and thrown her body into the deep sea.
The beach where princess Mandalika killed herself is in southern Lombok. Up to today, in February or March, people who live near the sea celebrate the moment. On that day, there are thousands of seas worms appear to the surface. People call the worms as Nyale. They believe that the worms are the incarnation of princess Mandalika. The celebration is called “BauNyale”.”
3. The Crying Stone
“Once upon a time, in a small village in Borneo Island, there lived a mother and her daughter. The daughter was popular among villagers because of her beautiful face but she has a bad behavior. She always spent her time in front of the mirror to admire her beautiful face. She never helped her mother to fulfill their daily needs. The daughter always made her mother sad. However, the mother still loved her very much.
One day, the girl asked her mother to buy her a new gown. The mother refused it because she had no money. Because the mother loved her daughter so much, she finally bought her a new gown.
Both went to the market. But the daughter asked her mother to walk behind because she was embarrassed if people saw them together. Once again, because of her love, the mother obeyed the daughter’s request.
Along the way home, the daughter still walked in front of her mother. People passing asked about the woman behind her. The daughter answer that she was not her mother but her servant. The mother kept silent. But inside her deep heart, she prayed to the God to punish her daughter. Suddenly, her daughter’s legs turned into stone. The daughter realized that it was because she had hurt her mother’s feeling. She begged to her mother to forgive but it was too late. Slowly, her body also turned into stone. Though the daughter had become a stone, but the tears were still seen, which was why the stone was called Batu Menangis.”
4. Story Behind How Animals Got Their Appearance
“Long time ago, animals were very different from how they appear today. Some animals were taller, some were thinner and some even had more legs than they have today. However, everything was boring and peaceful at the time until a red dragon saying that the world is going to end. Lion and chicken who had ever heard such issue before disbelieved.
The red dragon convinced both animals and said that the world is coming to an end within few days. Other animals who heard the issue asked the dragon where he found the information. Red dragon said that he had been told by a witch that the world is too old and would going to an end.
A rhino then asked to the dragon about what shall they do next. Red dragon said that all animals should climb onto his back and he would bring them fly to another world. All animals rushed to get on the red dragon’s back, except the lion. He said that he is a king and he never frightened of anything. He decided to stay.
The red dragon then flapped both wings and flew into the sky. Some animals felt uncomfortable because they never fly before. The animals started to fight each other. Because there were too many movements on his back, the flight was unstable and finally all of them fell down from the sky. Some animals landed with their face, some were with their body and some other landed with their tail first. All of them were injured and got different appearance like what we saw today.”
Conclusion:
Knowing about the Legend narratives is one of the best parts of learning English. It helps you to understand the cultural change, the society that existed at that time. The Legend helps you to understand the literature of the time we lost and how it can use in the upcoming literature changes.