Oral Tradition

Oral Tradition in Print:

Myths, Fables, Legends, Fairy

Tales, Folk Tales/Tall Tales

•What is oral
tradition?

• literature that

passes by word
of mouth from
one generation
to the next

Myths

• Definition: A story that explains supernatural

phenomena or teaches a lesson about human behavior

• Origin: Almost all cultures

• Settig: Usually set in ancient times

• Characters: Gods or supernatural heroes

• Examples: Greek mythology, Roman mythology

Multiple Select

What kinds of characters can appear in a myth? (Choose all that apply)

• Gods

• Goddesses

• Heroes

• Talking animals

Multiple Choice

Which plot might appear in a myth?

• A prince falls in love with a princess

• An animal tricks his neighbors

• A god creates mountains and volcanoes

• A lumberjack cuts down an entire forest with one swipe

Multiple Choice

When do myths take place?

• Future

• Ancient past

• Past

• Present

Multiple Choice

What might a myth attempt to explain?

• Why it is hot in the summer and cold in the winter

• How cars work

• What a person should do in an argument

• When phones were invented

Multiple Choice

Myths teach __________________ lessons.

• important

• moral

• interesting

• old-fashioned

Multiple Choice

King Midas wished for everything he touched to turn to gold. When his daughter hugged him, she also turned to gold, and he regretted his wish.

What is a possible theme for the myth King Midas?

• Don't be greedy

• All is fair in love and war

• Always be loyal

• Money is more important than family

Multiple Choice

Are myths fiction or nonfiction texts?

• Fiction

• Nonfiction

Multiple Choice

What are the features of a myth?

• It has animal characters and is based on fact.

• They are long, narrative poems with rhythm and rhyme.

• It teaches a lesson, has heroes, and animal characters.

• They include heroes, gods/goddesses, explain nature, and teach lessons.

Multiple Choice

True or False: Myths come from different cultures

• True

• False

http://www.bigmyth.com/myths/english/2_chinese_full.htm

Fables

• Definition: A brief story that leads to a moral, often using animals

as characters

• Origin: Found in almost every country

• Characters: 1 or 2, often animals or plants given human qualities,

but people and supernatural figures may appear

• Structure: very short story/moral is usually stated at the end

• Examples: Aesop’s fables, The Tortoise and the Hare

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Multiple Choice

A fable is a piece of fiction writing.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The main character(s) in a fables are:

• people

• plants

• bugs

• animals

Multiple Choice

What is the author's purpose when writing a fable?

• To entertain the reader

• To teach the reader something new

• To teach a lesson

• To show us how to draw

Multiple Choice

What is a moral?

• a person that will not live forever

• a lesson

• a direction to go

• a way to cook chicken

Multiple Choice

How long is a fable?

• 1-2 sentences

• a chapter book

• a short story

• a paragraph

Legends

• Definition: a narrative account of a historical figure or place ·

stays within the realm of possibility ·

• Origin: found in almost all cultures
• evolves over the time · has a distinct setting

• Characters: real people/historical heroes

• Examples: King Arthur, Robin Hood

George Washington cutting down the cherry tree

Fairy Tales

• Definition: a type of folktale that features supernatural elements

such as spirits, talking animals, and magic

• Origin: almost all cultures

• Content: Associated with children

• Characters: fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, gnomes, talking

animals, princes, princesses, witches, wicked stepmothers, fairy
godmothers, etc.

• Structure: Good prevails over villains

• Examples: Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc.

Folk Tales / Tall Tale

• Definition: an outrageously exaggerated, humorous story that is

obviously unbelievable

• Origin: American folk literature

• Content: Based on hard-working people

– Bragging and exaggeration – HYPERBOLE (tall tale)
– Humorous or witty
– Seemingly impossible feats

• Characters: people, fictional characters

– Told to make the narrator seems as if he/she was part of the story

• Examples: Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, Pecos Bill