Mrs.

Beach – Deane Bozeman English

 Storytelling is common to every culture. Most
people enjoy listening to stories. Storytellers
have catered to the need for a 'good story' since
the beginning of civilization.
 Most people have their own favorite story from
childhood and, often, these tales are both
fascinating and frightening. These stories include
legends, myths and folktales.
 A legend is a semi-true story, which has been
passed on from person-to-person and has
important meaning or symbolism for the
culture in which it originates. A legend
usually includes an element of truth, or is
based on historic facts, but with 'mythical
qualities'. Legends usually involve heroic
characters or fantastic places and often
encompass the spiritual beliefs of the culture
in which they originate.
 A myth is a story based on tradition or legend,
which has a deep symbolic meaning. A myth
'conveys a truth' to those who tell it and hear it,
rather than necessarily recording a true event.
Although some myths can be accounts of actual
events, they have become transformed by
symbolic meaning or shifted in time or place.
Myths are often used to explain universal and
local beginnings and involve supernatural beings.
The great power of the meaning of these stories,
to the culture in which they developed, is a
major reason why they survive as long as they do
- sometimes for thousands of years.
 A folktale is a popular story that was passed on in spoken
form, from one generation to the next. Usually the author
is unknown and there are often many versions of the tale.
Folktales comprise fables, fairy tales, old legends and
even 'urban legends'. Again, some tales may have been
based on a partial truth that has been lost or hidden over
time. It is difficult to categorize folktales precisely
because they fit into many categories. Folk tales are often
referred to as Tall Tales.
 Myths, legends and folktales are hard to classify and
often overlap. Imagine a line (or continuum) as
illustrated below, with an historical account based on
facts at one end and myths or cultural folktales at
the other; as you progress towards the
mythical/folktale end of the line, what an event
symbolizes to people, or what they feel about it,
becomes of greater historical significance than the
facts, which become less important. By the time you
reach the far end of the spectrum, the story has
taken on a life of its own and the facts of the original
event, if there ever was one, have become almost
irrelevant. It is the message that is important.
 As well as making fascinating reading, these stories also
tell us a great deal about how people in the past saw, and
understood, the world around them.
There are many reasons why stories are told and passed
down the generations. Here are just a few of them:

 To strengthen a community and provide a common

understanding. Stories often reflect the beliefs of the
people who tell them. The popularity of any story depends
on whether those listening approve of the values
underlying it. By telling and listening to stories, people
confirmed their ideas about the world around them.
Things that people found scary, infuriating, or desirable all
found their way into the stories and they were passed on,
because people wanted to be assured that other people
around them were thinking along the same lines.
 As a way of providing moral guidance and showing
people how they should conduct themselves, including
the consequences of not doing so. Myths and legends,
like any good stories, often include a moral. Within
the myth, the hurt or embarrassment experienced by
people is often due to their own stupidity, greed,
dishonesty or negligence.

 To explain how the world works, for example why the

seasons change, and to explain strange happenings or
phenomena such as eclipses - the reasons for which
were unknown in early times.
 For entertainment purposes. Stories were told to
amuse and enthrall an audience in the days before TV
and other forms of mass entertainment.
 To pass on history and knowledge, such as the outcome of battles
and tales of courage, in ages when many people could not read or
write. Many myths have an element of truth that has been built
upon and embellished over the years.
 For fame, money or recognition - as in all areas of life, not all
stories were told for good reasons. For example, stories of bravery
in battle could enhance the status of an individual or a group or,
in later centuries, a good ghost story could be sold for money. The
truth was not always the most important consideration.
Regardless of why they were told, many of the stories still remain
popular today and, although we no longer swap stories around the
fireside, the tradition of storytelling still continues in the form of
urban legends. Many older stories also live on in current day
carnivals or festivals, which have their roots in a very different
past.
 A re-telling
 The orientation is typically timeless e.g. ‘Long,
long ago’
‘ Before animals walked the earth’
 A single animal is representative of all animals
of that kind
 Natural forces like wind and fire are represented
by gods or god-like form
 The resolution of myths and legends explain why
things are the way we are
 A classic opening and\or closing (e.g. Once upon
a time…., And they all lived happily after)
 Stereotypes e.g. Animals e.g. wolves are
bad; rescuers are male
 The representative of certain values,
wealth= happiness, beauty = happiness
 The involvement of supernatural forces, e.g.
fairy godmothers, creatures that can talk
 Tales are based around themes like trickery
and foolishness
 ‘But still to this day…’
 ‘So every time you see…’
 These comments sum up how things came to
be .
 A hero is someone who is distinguished for
his or her courage or ability. They are
admired for brave deeds and noble qualities.
They may have performed heroic acts. They
may also be someone who is a model or an
ideal.
 Make a list of all the heroes you can think of
– both real and fictional.

 Think about a person in your life you might

consider a hero. Write a short explanation or
story about why you consider him/her to be
a hero.
 A tall tale is a story that provides enjoyment
to a wide variety of audiences. Tall tales
stretch the imagination through colorful
figurative language and exaggerations.
 Tall tales are also known as lying tales;
they are humorous exaggerations.
 Tall tales may come from other countries
but we are most familiar with American
ones.
 Tall tales are often about the frontier days in the United
States. They are an exaggeration of the hardships of
frontier life.
 Tall tales may be about animals, weather,
everyday events, and ordinary people; but the more
famous tales are about heroes.
 Tall tales often feature over-sized people
and exaggerated deeds.