Introduction to Folklore

Mrs. Opaleski-DiMeo
Creative Writing
Myth
A myth is a sacred story from the past.
 It may explain the origin of the universe and of life, or it
may express its culture's moral values in human terms. It
ALWAYS explains something in nature
Myths concern the powers that control the human world
(gods and supernatural beings) and the relationship
between those powers and human beings.
Although myths are religious in their origin and function,
they may also be the earliest form of history, science, or
philosophy.
Examples: Greek mythology – Zeus, Aphrodite, etc.
Tall Tale
A folktale, also called a tall tale, is a story that, in its
plot, is pure fiction and that has no particular location in
either time or space.
It is exaggerated, far-fetched story that is obviously untrue
but is told as though it should be believed.
However, despite its elements of fantasy, a folktale is
actually a symbolic way of presenting the different means
by which human beings cope with the world in which they
live.
Folktales concern people -- either royalty or common folk
–- who speak and act like people with can relate to.
Tall Tale
Main character has a problem or challenge to solve.
The “hero” has super-human strength (of mind OR
body) – larger than life features
The plot can be funny/silly with lots of action
Folktales are used to teach moral lessons to children.
Examples: Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan
Legend
A legend is a story from the past about a subject that was,
or is believed to have been, historical.
Legends concern people, places, and events. Usually, the
subject is a saint, a king, a hero, a famous person, or a war.
A legend is always associated with a particular place and a
particular time in history.
Similar to folktales, parents used legends to teach lessons
to their children, specifically lessons in nature or in
cultural customs
Example: King Arthur and Camelot
Urban Legends
Urban legends are a subgroup in this tradition. They are modern, only
dealing with the time span in which the legend occurs (there is no past or
future).
This narrative uses negative consequences to teach lessons or inflict
anxiety and fear in listeners where there is no definite ending; meaning
the story is left in limbo as in “the haunted house still remains haunted, the
vanishing hitchhiker continues to appear and disappear” or we never find
out what happens to the victim.
The reader tends to equate the unknown with danger which only will make
one more likely to heed any warning or moral buried within the legend.
 One consistent theme in urban legends is that as the adolescent moves
out from home into the larger world, the world's dangers may close in on
him or her. Therefore, they also serve to deliver a warning: Watch out! This
could happen to you!
Urban Legends
An apocryphal, secondhand story told as true and just plausible enough to be believed,
about some horrific, embarrassing, ironic, or exasperating series of events that supposedly
happened to a real person. It's likely to be attributed to a trustworthy secondhand source
(e.g., "a friend of a friend," "my boss's wife," "my sister's accountant," etc.).
Urban legends emerge spontaneously, spread "virally" from person to person, and are rarely
traceable to a single point of origin. Urban legends tend to change over time with repetition
and embellishment. There can be as many variants as there are tellers of the tale.
Urban legends usually toe a fine line between outlandishness and plausibility. Does the
story seem a little suspect, yet believable? Was it told to you AS IF it's true? Often the teller
of an urban legend will even begin with the statement, 'This is a true story...‘
Typically considered a cautionary tale
Example: think of the story of the kid Mikey from the Life cereal box; he supposedly died
from eating pop rocks and drinking coke at the same time or the
Fable
A fable is a very brief story in prose or verse that
teaches a moral, or a practical lesson about how to get
along in life.
The main characteristic of a fable is that the characters
are animals that behave and speak like humans.
A fable may explain something in nature as well.
A character usually represents a single human
characteristic, such as a fox being symbolic of a
trickster
Fairy Tales
Fairy tales are completely fictitious stories that always begin with “Once

upon a time” and end with “Happily Ever After”.
Set in the past—usually significantly long ago. May be presented as
historical fact from the past.
Include fantasy, supernatural or make-believe aspects.
Typically incorporate clearly defined good characters and evil characters.
Involves magic elements, which may be magical people, animals, or objects.
Magic may be positive or negative.
May include objects, people, or events in threes.
Focus the plot on a problem or conflict that needs to be solved.


Fairy Tales
• Often have happy endings, based on the resolution of the conflict
or problem.
• Usually teach a lesson or demonstrate values important to the
culture.
Most involve mystical elements such as fairies, witches or magical
spells.
Interestingly, fairy tales are universal is most cultures. For example,
there are over a 100 different cultural versions of Cinderella.
A new breed of fairy tales have emerged with the politically
conscious whereas the “othered”, aka the villain, gets a voice. For
example, the story of the Three Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf’s point
of view is the dominant one and is more sympathetic.
Assignment
Choose either a fable, legend, urban legend, myth, tall
tale or fairy tale
Meet the criteria of your specified folklore
Must be 4- 5 pages
Rough Draft due to Turnitin.com end of the period
Friday, May 12th
Peer Review will be Monday, May 15th
Monday
Since only HALF of you submitted your folklore, we
will have peer review tomorrow.
If you have NOT submitted, you are to finish your draft
and submit today – you will be marked late.
If you HAVE submitted, look through all your graded
work – revised writing sample, short story, poetry
packet #1 and 2 – and begin to revise and edit it so it
will be ready for design and layout work next week.
The Rest of the Week
Tuesday – ONE peer review - SHORTEN PERIOD
Wednesday - Revision and Edit of folklore – SUBMIT
FINAL – shorten period
Thursday and Friday – Presentation of Folklore –
Folklore Festival – Sign up for food! LONGER PERIOD