Traditional Literature Vocabulary

a short story, passed down over generations by being told aloud

• folktale

• fairy tale

• legend

• myth

The ______ has been passed down in their family for generations.

• folktale

• fairy tale

• legend

• myth

a folktale that often involves magic, royalty, events happening in threes.  Often includes good vs evil, usually ends happily ever after.

• folktale

• fairy tale

• legend

• myth

Cinderella is a very popular _____ _____.

• folktale

• fairy tale

• legend

• myth

a short folktale that teaches a lesson using talking animals

• tall tale

• fable

• legend

• myth

The Tortoise and the Hare is a very popular ______.

• tall tale

• fable

• legend

• myth

a folktale often based on a real hero that accomplished major feats, and sometimes the real story is inflated

• tall tale

• fable

• legend

• myth

The Legend of the Poinsettia is a popular ______ that explains the existence of the Christmas poinsettia.

• tall tale

• fable

• legend

• myth

a folktale that is used to explain how or why something came to be.  Sometimes involves gods/goddesses.

• tall tale

• fable

• legend

• myth

Poseidon is an example of a ______ because he is a god that explains why things happen at sea.

• tall tale

• fable

• legend

• myth