Writing
Folklore
The term folklore usually refers to the traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people which have been passed along usually by word of mouth, or in writing. The term folklore may also be used to define the comparative study of folk knowledge and culture.
There are six types of folklore: fables, fairy tales, folktales, legends, myths, and tall tales
The term folklore usually refers to the traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people which have been passed along usually by word of mouth, or in writing. The term folklore may also be used to define the comparative study of folk knowledge and culture.
There are six types of folklore: fables, fairy tales, folktales, legends, myths, and tall tales
Fable
A fable is a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.
Examples: The Ant and the Grasshopper
Aesop’s Fables
Examples: The Ant and the Grasshopper
Aesop’s Fables
Fairytale
Folktale
A folktale is a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth.
In other words, a folktale is a story or legend forming part of an oral tradition. Folktales possess many or all of the characteristics listed below.
• Usually part of the oral tradition of a group.
• Are more frequently told than read
• Are passed down from one generation to another
• Take on the characteristics of the time and place in which they are told
• Sometimes take on the personality of the storyteller
• Speak to universal and timeless themes.
• Try to make sense of our existence, help humans cope with the world in which they live, or explain the origin of something.
• Are often about the common person
• May contain supernatural elements
• Function to validate certain aspects of culture
Examples: The Crow Brings Sunlight
Connecticut Yankee
In other words, a folktale is a story or legend forming part of an oral tradition. Folktales possess many or all of the characteristics listed below.
• Usually part of the oral tradition of a group.
• Are more frequently told than read
• Are passed down from one generation to another
• Take on the characteristics of the time and place in which they are told
• Sometimes take on the personality of the storyteller
• Speak to universal and timeless themes.
• Try to make sense of our existence, help humans cope with the world in which they live, or explain the origin of something.
• Are often about the common person
• May contain supernatural elements
• Function to validate certain aspects of culture
Examples: The Crow Brings Sunlight
Connecticut Yankee
Legend
A legend is a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated.
Example: Jesse James and the Widow
Urban Legends: are apocryphal stories involving rather fantastic contemporary incidents which have a tantalizing bit of plausibility to them. Urban legends contain many folkloric elements and are disseminated through mass media.
Example: The Dance
Example: Jesse James and the Widow
Urban Legends: are apocryphal stories involving rather fantastic contemporary incidents which have a tantalizing bit of plausibility to them. Urban legends contain many folkloric elements and are disseminated through mass media.
Example: The Dance
Myth
Myths are traditional, typically ancient stories dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people. The purpose of myths is to account for the origins of something, explain aspects of the natural world or delineate the psychology, customs, or ideals of society. In many myths, the main characters are gods or demi-gods and the story may have some religious meaning or background.
In the Inuit tale of the First Tears retold by S.E. Schlosser, we discover how Man learned to cry.
Excerpt: "Once long ago, Man went hunting along the water's edge for seals. To Man's delight, many seals were crowded together along the seashore. He would certainly bring home a great feast for Woman and Son. He crept cautiously towards the seals. The seals grew restless. Man slowed down. Suddenly, the seals began to slip into the water. Man was frantic. His feast was getting away."
Example: First Tears
In the Inuit tale of the First Tears retold by S.E. Schlosser, we discover how Man learned to cry.
Excerpt: "Once long ago, Man went hunting along the water's edge for seals. To Man's delight, many seals were crowded together along the seashore. He would certainly bring home a great feast for Woman and Son. He crept cautiously towards the seals. The seals grew restless. Man slowed down. Suddenly, the seals began to slip into the water. Man was frantic. His feast was getting away."
Example: First Tears
Tall Tale
A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements, related as if it were true and factual. Tall tales is are extravagant, fanciful or greatly exaggerated. They usually focus on the achievements of the ultimate hero.
Examples: Pecos Bill rides a Tornado
Paul Bunyan
Examples: Pecos Bill rides a Tornado
Paul Bunyan