Folktales
What is a folktale?
A folktale is a story passed down through generations through word of mouth.
What is a fable?
A fable is a kind of folktale that teaches a lesson (usually with animals as characters) and has a moral at the end.
What is a tall tale?
A tall tale is a story that can be about an everyday person-- real or made up-- with exaggerated details, like superhuman abilities.
What is a legend?
A legend is a folktale about a heroic person, believed to be true.
Name at least 3 types of folktales?
Fairytales, tall tales, myths, legends, and fables
Usually, who are the characters in a fable?
Usually, fables have animals as characters.
Usually, who are the characters in a tall tale?
Usually, in tall tales, the main character is an everyday person with exaggerated details and perform unbelievable tasks. A problem is solved, usually, in a funny way.
Who are the characters in legends?
The characters in legends are usually people who are believed to have been real.
How are folktales passed around?
What is an example of a fable?
Ananski the Spider
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The Lion and the Mouse
The Tortoise and the Hare
The Ant and the Grasshopper
What is an example of a tall tale?
Paul Bunyan, Bill Pecos
What is an example of a legend?
John Henry, King Arthur, Robin Hood, Johnny Appleseed, Molly Wilson, Casey Jones
A grandparent may tell a folktale to grandchildren around a campfire!
What makes this story a fable?
Ants were working during the summer to store food for the upcoming winter. A grasshopper was playing his instrument around, relaxing each day, and watching the ants do a lot of work. The ants warned the grasshopper not to play all day without preparing for winter. The grasshopper ignored their suggestion.
Winter came and the grasshopper was cold and hungry. He didn't have enough food or a warm shelter prepared for the winter.
Good news: The ants accept the grasshopper's cries for help for food and a warm place. He survives but learned an important lesson.
There are animal characters and it teaches the audience a lesson. (A moral is taught. )
What makes this a myth?
A Greek goddess, Pandora, was given a box by Zeus, but was told never to open it. Overcome by curiosity, Pandora finally opened the box, which released all manner of evils, diseases, and pain into the world. This explains why there is sometimes evil in the world.
This is a story with gods and goddesses, that explains why something occurs in the world.
Why is this story a legend?
Molly Wilson was working as a cook and housekeeper during the time of a blizzard. Many firefighters and volunteer firefighters were sick with the flu. When a house caught on fire, Molly raced to gather supplies and operated the fire engines with other volunteers to save the community.
Molly performed this heroic act during a time when laws were unfair and unequal. Molly was the first woman to step into this firefighter role, which led to more women working as firefighters generations later.
The main character is based off a real person who was a hero!