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A legend is a story passed on by word of mouth that mixes history and imagination; it cannot be treated as a historical record. According to a Samarkand legend, a group of girls in the castle of Qirq Qiz Tepa defend the city from soldiers of another country. Their leader is Gauhar. For many days and nights the girls fight, many are killed, the castle burns and the arrows run out. Although she is wounded, Gauhar stands before the enemy soldiers and calls their leader to a duel. The enemy leader admires her courage, says that seeing the pearl of Samarkand is enough for him and orders his army to go back. When help from the city arrives, Gauhar is badly wounded; she remembers her family, sees the city saved and smiles. In your retelling, tell the fighting, the wounds and the courage in order.
“Legend analysis”: groups discuss which of five statements could be legend and which could be history.