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Elements of Folktales
- A type of story that is told orally from generation to generation between common people.
- Folktales are meant to explain wonders of the world.
- Folktales are meant to teach a moral lesson.
Characteristics of Folktales
- Begin with Once upon a time or Long ago
- Have good and bad characters
- About people or animals
- Explains something
- Cultural beliefs
- Problem to solve
- Happy ending/ Lesson Learned
Basics
Character Setting Plot
Plot
Character
Short and simple
Flat, simple, easy to identify
Stereotypes
Formula: journey, quick and unexplained conflict, happy ending
Heroes are often isolated
Setting
Removed from the "real world"
Described in vague, unclear terms
"Once upon a time..."
"Long ago, in a dark forest..."
The Rule of Three
Types of Folktales
The main character is a clever trickster that usually makes problems for the other characters. This main character usually goes unpunished.
There is always some lesson to be learned, but the lesson is not written. The reader must understand the lesson. The characters are usually animals with human qualities.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
What kind of folktale is this?
What is the problem?
What is the resolution?
What is the lesson?
Themes
Compassion, Generosity, Humility
A folktale theme tends to a "rite or passage" or a character growing up, becoming independent, learning about sacrifice, etc.
"Wisdom comes through suffering."
The story is to explain why something in nature is the way it is OR how something in nature happens
Trickster
Fables
Pourquoi
Fairytales
Tall Tales
In folktales, the number 3 occurs many times. Such as,
3 characters
3 days/nights
3 events
3 problems to solve
One song repeated 3 times
Aesop and his Fables
Characters are usually only good or evil with an obvious hero. Characters can do magic. Story begins with "Once upon a time." Hero usually wins by kindness, honesty, or courage.
Characters, setting, and plot are exaggerated and impossible, but usually include real places and real people.
Aesop's writings are dated 620-464 B.C.
Tall Tales
(Legends)
*with a little Porquoi
These ARE specific to a place
These EXAGGERATE or HIGHLIGHT a cultural worldview
STILL for children
STILL an element of magic/unreality
STILL simple characters
STILL spoken stories
STILL shows us a lot about culture
Most traditional fables are said to be written by Aesop:
have a lesson, plants and animals have human characteristics, and--if there is a human--they have little human-to-human contact.