“In common with old folk myths, urban legends circulate mainly by word of mouth, are

generally anonymous, and vary constantly in particular detail from one telling to another,
while always preserving a central core of traditional elements. To some degree, urban
legends must be considered false, at least in the sense that the same strange events
could not actually have happened in so many places to so many different tellers of the
tales” (adapted from “Urban Legends”, by Jan Harold Brunvald)

When someone tells one of these stories it sounds interesting because of the details.
They tell you:

 When it happened
 Who it happened to
 Where it happened
 How people felt
 What they were wearing, etc

♦ Here is an example of the ‘central core’ of an urban legend. Retell the

story, but add some details to make it more interesting. Imagine it is a
true story.

The cat in the package

A cat died. The owner lived in a flat. He/she wanted to throw away the
body and put it into (what?). For some reason (what?), he/she could
not find a place to leave the package. The owner stopped (where?)
and put the package down (where?). He/she picked it up again, went
home, and opened the package. It was the wrong one. The package
now contained (what?)

♦ Now write an ‘urban legend’ that you have heard. Use the
information in the table to help you:
When did it happen? Who did it happen to? Where did it happen?
Once…. / One night… A friend of mine…. In (Buenos Aires)…
A few (years) ago… A friend of a friend…. In/Near my hometown…
In 1994/in April/ in summer… Someone I know… On the way home (from….)
On 12th October/On A relative (cousin, aunt, etc.) On the road from X to Y…
Tuesday… A schoolmate…. At a cinema….
At Christmas/Easter… My cousin’s wife/brother-in- In a park/wood/forest…
Last (month)… law… On a beach…