READING TRADITIONAL TALES

AND KNOWING THEIR PATTERNS

 FOLKTALE
The term folktale refers to a traditional narrative of
unknown authorship that has been handed down from
generation to generation regardless of its content. These
old stories are often called fairy tales because many of
them deal with fairies or magic or any supernatural
element. Some of the contents or characters were
animals, mysterious and powerful influences like Gods,
giants, heroes who overcome incredible obstacles and win
awards and other supernatural beings.
Primary Characteristic of Folktales:
Has no known individual author
Has no fixed or original form
Has a brief introduction
Adapted to any age
Has simple plot that is easy to remember
Characters appeal to both children and adults
Has element of magic that appeals to children.
Values of Folktales:
Gives pleasure and enjoyment to children
Stirs the imagination
Gives insight into life
Used for dramatization
Used for illustration
Develops ear training
Plays a role in the emotional development of children
Develops confidence and courage in children against fear
of the unknown
Types of Folk tales:
Accumulative or Repetitional Tales
are the simplest of all. There is not much plot
involved, but they carry a lot of rhythm. Events follow
each other logically in a pattern of cadence and
repetition.
Talking Beast Stories
are stories in which animals and creatures talk just as
humans do. Generally, they teach a lesson such as the
rewards of courage, ingenuity, and independence.
Drolls or Humorous Stories
are those meant for fun and nonsense – silly stories
about sillies. They revolve around a character who
makes unbelievably funny mistakes.
Realistic Stories
deal with characters, plots, and settings that are
possible. There is little exaggeration and no magic
involved.
Religious Tales
folktales using religious elements or beliefs are rarely
found in children’s collection. The religious folktales
are either comical or didactic.
Fairy Tales
The term fairy tales include a wide variety of
folktales. A large portion of these stories are based on
the element of magic or supernatural. Something
extraordinary happens in the story. The setting of a
fairy tales is a visionary or unreal world. The setting is
usually idealized or romantic setting. The characters
are fairies, water pixies, dwarfs, giants, speaking
animals, and beautiful creatures.
Romance Tales
Romances in the folktales is remote and impersonal.
The characters are stereotypes. Enchantments and
impossible tasks separate folktale lovers and magic
brings them together.
Pourquoi Tales
seeks to explain natural phenomena. They provide
primitive explanations for the many “why” questions
early human asked.
 MYTHS
A myth is a story that explains primitive man’s idea of
the origin of the universe, the mysteries of natural
phenomena, the life of Gods, Goddesses, and other
pagan divinities, their contacts with each other and
their relation to man. It is especially associated with
religious rites and beliefs.
Myths Uses:
To explain natural phenomena or an occurrence.
To explain the creation of the world.
To teach people moral lessons.
To explain some historical event.
To explain some ancient religious practices.
To reveal the common hopes and fears of mankind.
Creation Myths
are immense stories, telling of how the world and
cosmos came to ne, why humans were put into it
and why they die. They have an often humorous set
of little cousins, known as Etiological or “How and
Why” stories which, in the form of fables and
folktales. Explain the origins of things.
Nature Myths
These are the stories that try to explain why season
changes.
Hero Myths
In these stories the hero must accomplish some tasks.
 FABLES
A fable is a fictitious story about an animal or an
inanimate object which behaves like a human being
and has one dominant trait. It is meant to teach a
lesson or moral.
Characteristics of Fables:
They are fiction in the sense that they did not really
happen
They are meant to entertain
They are poetic, with double or allegorical significance
They are moral tales, usually with animal characters
Fables are short, and they usually have no more than
two or three characters
 LEGENDS
A legend is a narrative that is partly true and partly
imaginary about a particular person, event, place or
natural feature. It is a form of story containing
miracles and wonders handed down from
generation to generation though they are not
authenticated by accepted proof. A legend is closely
allied to history although it is not verifiable.
Characteristics of Legends:
A story from the past about a subject that was, or is
believed to have been, historical
Many legends tell about human beings who meet
supernatural creatures
Historical but not always factual
 EPICS AND HERO TALES
An epic is a story that is sometimes written in verse,
sometimes in prose, and others are in ballads. The
story may be the exploits of a hero, and his heroic
acts embody the moral code of a country or of a
nation.
Values of Hero Tales:
Develop in the child good moral character.
Enlarge the child’s vocabulary.
Develop the imagination.
 NURSERY TALES
Are specifically signed for very young children, and
often have cumulative ‘runs’ (often in verse or song).
They build on very strong repeated patterns,
demonstrating language and casualty.
 TEACHING TALES
Teaching tales are simple stories that pack a powerful
persuasive punch. They are typically very short, often
less than a hundred words, and are designed as a
metaphor that will make listeners sit up and take
notice. Teaching tales are not new and have been
used for thousands of years, carrying tribal wisdom
across generations and propagating religions thought
stories of heroes, deities, prophets, protagonists and
antagonists.