Urban legends are typically heard from indirect sources and have short, underdeveloped characters. They immediately set the scene in a specific time and place before building tension and suspense to convey danger, mystery, or horror. Urban legends sometimes end with a cliffhanger using ellipsis and aim to warn the reader.

1. What are the
features of an
urban legend?

2. 1. Often heard from a second-hand source:
‘a friend of a friend’.
I heard this story from a friend of my
Uncle’s...
One of the instructors told me this story...
My sister heard this story from he friend...
2. Characters are not usually developed, the
story is too short.

3. 2. Characters are not usually developed, the
story is too short.
A man
A woman
A child

4. 3. The scene is set immediately in time and
place.
Late at night...
During the day...
100 years ago...
Last summer...

5. 4. Tension and suspense is built swiftly to
convey danger, mystery or horror.
…in the middle of nowhere…
…getting closer and closer…
…all alone…
Suddenly
All of a sudden
At that moment
Just then

6. 5. There is sometimes a cliff-hanger ending
which uses ellipsis.

7. 6. It may be a cautionary tale – the story is
often a warning to the reader.