FolkloreOr

Popular Antiquity

Pop Culture, Elite Culture, Folk Culture

These are the three types of culture used in the world today. Can you tell which picture belongs to which culture?

Pop culture

The media passes it down

Short life span

Author is traceable

Fine Culture

Media passes down

Author is known

Long Life span

Folk Culture

Roots of the other two

Passed along orally, rarely by media

Usually told among friends

Passed by visual perception EX: grass mowing

No known author

Lives basically forever

Elements of Folklore Folklore is the traditional beliefs, customs, stories, songs and dances of a culture. It is an

oral tradition and is based on the lives of the common people.

The following are examples of folklore that is used in modern day literature.

Riddles

Fairy Tales (think “Once Upon A Time” or “Grimm”)

Proverbs

Folk tales

Legends

Urban legends

Ghost stories

Superstitions

RiddlesThis is the oldest form of written folklore we have. It

is a question with an unexpected answer. (The Riddle of the Sphinx)

There are 3 major parts to a riddle:1. Description

2. The block

3. The answer

EX: A riddle a riddle, a hole in the middle. What am I?

Answer: A doughnut

Proverbs Oldest form of oral genre, but has passed into literary works

Definition Brief popular saying in a relatively fixed format Cannot be a single word- such as “fiddlesticks”

Examples:

“Get your ducks in a row”

“A rolling stone gathers no moss”

Several use similes “sweet as sugar” or are ironic “clear as mud”

Superstitions Superstitions are beliefs of the ignorant because they have

not factual basis. Some people actually believe them to be true. Most superstitions have a counteractive part that will fix whatever the belief is to make it better.

Examples of Superstitions It is bad luck if a black cat crosses your path unless you put 3 Xs

in the air as it does. If you break a mirror, it is 7 years bad luck-unless you throw the

parts into running water (like a river). It then gives the bad luck to the person that cuts their foot on the shard of glass.

If you sweep over a person’s foot with a broom, someone is going to die the house that night.

If you hear an owl hoot outside your window, you are going to die.

You hear of teams wearing the same shirt or socks for each game as if that is why they win. Players do not shave their beards for the playoffs, etc.

Folk TalesAn anonymous, traditional story passed down

orally long before it was written down. Folktales include animal stories, tricksters, fairy tales, legends, myths and tall tales.

Trickster tales are the ones like Br’er Fox and Br’er Rabbit.

Fairy TalesFairy tales have some sort of fairy element to them.

These are not the modern day “Tinkerbell” style creations.

Fairies are like myths. They were once believed in and were used to explain the negative or unexplainable things that happen to people. For example: If two dark haired parents have a child that is blond, we understand that genetically that can happen. The people of old believed the fairies came and switched their real child with a fairy child (a changling), and they would throw the baby into the fire to return it to the fairy parents.

Murder? Not in those days

Fairy tales continuedFairies were used to explain negative things as well. If

a young person got thin and quit eating, the people of old claimed he or she must have eaten fairy food and will now waste away.

The truth? It was probably some form of cancer or other disease.

Milk soured? Kobolds did it!

Water in a pan by the fire disappear? The pixies drank it!

Mushrooms grow in a circle in your yard? Fairies danced there the night before. That is called a “fairy ring”

Blankets all kicked off the bed at night? You have a boggart living in your house!

Kobold

Boggart

Pixies

TROLLSParents told their children about trolls and the bogey man to keep them from going outside or away from them at night. They used the tales to keep the kids safe.

Tall TalesA tall tale is a story in which the exploits of a

character are exaggerated. When you read one, you expect to find ridiculous and unlikely situations narrated seriously, as if the events are true. They rely on certain elements: a hero for the people, deeds that are unbelievable, and character traits that are wildly exaggerated.

Examples include Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyon, and John Henry.

PECOS

BILL

PAUL BUNYON AND HIS BLUE OX, BABE

JOHN HENRY

What is the purpose of tall tales? Why do you think peopletold them?

Urban LegendsSome of these may seem more modern because

you have heard them from your parents. They are stories easily passed down through the internet.

Examples include Bloody Mary, The Hook Story, or even something as simple as if you see flashing headlines, you’ll get shot.

Rules to follow with urban legends-the people telling them believe they are true. It ruins the fun if you tell them it is not.

ghost story n. A story having supernatural or frightening elements, especially a story featuring ghosts or spirits of the dead.

ex: Bloody Mary