Folktales Introduction

Folktales notes
tall tales, fairytales, myths, legends, and fables

Folktales: Why do they exist?

STORY TELLING IS FOUND IN EVERY CULTURE.

• These stories help people understand the world around them and keep the past alive.

• They also teach lessons about human behavior and reveal the values of society.

• a folktale is a story from the past that is passed down from generation to generation.

• short story
• usually, 1-3 animal characters • vague setting
• simple plot
• teaches a lesson

Major Characteristics

A fable is a short story that usually involves personified animals (animals that behave like people). Fables convey an obvious lesson or moral. Often, the moral is stated at the end of the story.

Definition

Folktale Type: Fables

• mythical setting

• often involves mythical creatures and characters

• characters are either good or evil

• usually, a happy ending

Major Characteristics

A fairytale takes place in a mythical land, usually ruled by royalty. There may be mythical creatures such as dragons and unicorns and mythical characters such as elves, trolls, and talking animals. Characters are either good or evil. Usually, there is a happy ending.

Definition

Folktale Type: fairytales

• exaggerated story
• humorous
• told as if it were true
• swaggering hero
• may use real settings and characters
• about the Old West

Major Characteristics

A tall tale is told as if it is a true story, but many parts of the story are so exaggerated that it is obviously fiction. Tall tales are usually focused on the American Old West and often feature real places and sometimes real people.

Definition

Folktale Type: tall tales

• set in a specific time in the past

• characters are thought to be real people

• characters and events are embellished

• told as a true story

• not meant to be humorous

Major Characteristics

A legend is story that takes place in a specific time in the past and focuses on real people who do extraordinary or heroic deeds. Although parts of the story may be embellished, they told as if they are true stories. Unlike tall tales, legends are not usually humorous.

Definition

Folktale Type: legends

• takes place in a timeless (unspecific) past

• feature supernatural events and beings

• explains how something came to be

• from cultures all over the world, like Greek myths

Major Characteristics

A myth is a story that takes place in a timeless past. Myths often feature supernatural events and beings (gods, goddesses, and other deities). Myths often explain how something in nature came to be or why something is the way it is. Myths come from every corner of the world.

Definition

Folktale Type: myths

Multiple Choice

A story that has a moral or a lesson is a

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend

Multiple Choice

"Snow White" would be an example of a ...

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend

Multiple Choice

stories that contain gods and goddesses are usually ...

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend

Multiple Select

stories that are exaggerated are usually ...

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend

Multiple Choice

stories that contain magic is usually ...

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend

Multiple Choice

stories that contain magic is usually ...

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend

Multiple Choice

stories about characters that may or may not have existed in history are...

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend

Multiple Choice

Once upon a time, in a kingdom deep

in the mountains, a little girl grew into a

beautiful princess. It was decided by her

father, the king, that it was time for her

to be married. He invited all of the

princes from all of the surrounding

kingdoms to come to meet his daughter.

The princes arrived, bringing magical

gifts and treasures.

This is an example of a...

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend

Multiple Choice

George Washington is known as one of

the most honest people in history. In fact,

when he was a child, he demonstrated that

honesty. One day, his father came home

from hunting and discovered that his best

cherry tree had been cut down. He called

little George to him. George saw how angry

his father was, and was frightened. His

father bellowed, “George Washington…did

you chop down this tree?” Young George

held his breath for a moment and said, “I

cannot tell a lie. Yes, father, I cut down the

tree.”

This is an example of a...

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend

Multiple Choice

The earth began as a great floating

island surrounded by the oceans. It

hangs from the sky by chords attached

to the heavens. The island was created

by Dayuni’si, a little water beetle. The

little creature could skittle over the

water, but found no place to rest. So, he

dove to the bottom of the sea, bringing

up soft mud, handful by handful, and

through is efforts, built the earth

This is an example of a...

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend

Multiple Choice

Ole Pete was a railroad worker on the

Atlantic Coast Railroad running out of

Tampa, FL. Pete’s skull was an inch thick,

and for a nickel, he’d crack a coconut on it.

For fifty cents, Pete would beat a goat in a

head-butting contest. One day, Ole Pete

dozed off with his head resting on the track.

Because of a switching error, a train

barreled down the track and right over

Pete’s head, causing it to derail or crash.

The engineer crawled out of the wreckage

and ran to Pete’s side. “Pete! Pete! Are you

okay.” Pete looked a bit stunned, but

otherwise unharmed. “Did you hear that

too?” he asked.

This is an example of a...

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend

Multiple Choice

An old lion, too weak to hunt, decided to try

a new strategy. He pretended to be injured.

Many animals came to his aid, and the lion

captured each one, stashing it away in a sack to

eat later. At the end of his successful day of

hunting, the lion limped back to his cave where

he encountered a fox. The fox noticed the

wiggling sack the lion carried. He also noticed

that the lion began to limp as soon as he saw

him. “Here, Mister Lion, let me help you.” “Yes,

please,” purred the lion. “Can you come a bit

closer?” “I can,” said the fox, “but I’m shy. Can

you close your eyes?” When the lion closed his

eyes, the fox snuck around behind him, opening

the sack and freeing the other animals. The

moral of the story: Using your head keeps you

from making disastrous mistakes.

This is an example of a...

• fairy tale

• fable

• tall tale

• myth

• legend