Unit 6: Themes in Oral Tradition

Community or Individual: Which is more important?

What is Oral Tradition?

Oral tradition=the sharing of stories, cultures, and ideas by word of mouth Most originated before reading and writing

began Handed down from generation to generation Used to communicate shared beliefs and

explain the world

Characteristics of Oral Tradition

Theme: a central idea, message, or insight that is revealed within a story Examples: Love, Romance, Peace, War, Good

vs. Evil Universal theme: an idea repeated across

many cultures and throughout many time periods

• Moral: a lesson about life that is taught by a story

• Heroes and Heroines: characters or people whose virtues and deeds are celebrated in stories from oral tradition

Characteristics of Oral Tradition

Storytelling: requires the talents and personality of the teller (narrator) to bring the narrative to life; uses some common techniques: Hyperbole: using exaggeration or

overstatement, either for comic effect or to express heightened emotion.

Personification: giving human characteristics to nonhuman subjects, such as animals or elements of nature.

Allusion: referring to a well known person, place, event, literary work, or other work of art

The Oral Tradition in Print

Myths: tales that express the actions of gods, goddesses, and the heroes who interact with them; every culture has it’s own mythology (collection of myths); often attempt to explain the causes of natural phenomena.

Legends: traditional stories based on real life events; as stories are told and retold, facts often become fiction.

Folk Tales: stories about ordinary people; reveal the traditions and values of a culture and teach a lesson.

The Oral Tradition in Print

Tall Tales: types of folk tales that often use hyperbole (deliberate overstatement) for comic effect; often focus on central hero that performs impossible feats.

Fables: brief stories featuring animals that speak and act like humans; often end with a moral that is directly stated.

Epics: long narrative poems important to the history of a nation or culture. Tell of a larger than life hero that goes on a dangerous journey or quest.

Reading Skill: Cause and Effect

A cause is an event, action, or feeling that produces a result. That result is called an effect. In some literary works, multiple causes result in a single effect. In others, a single cause results in multiple effects. Effects can also become causes for events that follow. This linking of causes and effects propels the action in a narrative forward.

As you read, ask questions to analyze cause and effect relationships (What happened? Why? What will happen as a result of this?)

Literary Analysis: Myth

Since time began, people have created myths , stories that explain natural occurrences and express beliefs about right and wrong .

Every culture has its own collection of myths or mythology. Myths explore universal themes and explain the world in human terms.

Compare and Contrast

A comparison tells how one or more things are alike

A contrast tells how two or more things are different

Tone and Theme

Tone: the tone of a literary work is the author’s attitude toward the subject Often, tone is closely linked to theme.