FOLKLORE

Folklore can be defined as all the traditions, customs, and stories that are passed along by word of mouth in a culture. Folklore includes legends, myths, folk tales, jump-rope rhymes, folk songs, and proverbs.

FOLKLORE All the stories of folklore began as spoken, not written,language. Because these stories were passed alongfrom teller to teller and from generation to generation, theirstarting point cannot be traced to any one person. A singlestory may change often as each story teller adds his or herspecial touch. Typically the stories are collected and writtendown only after they have been told for many years, perhapscenturies.

FOLKLORE These tales-whether woven in the distant past or inmodern times offer much to the reader: entertainmentintroducing young people to history, beliefs, and religion of

societyteach lessons about human behavior and show qualities

that are valued by the society, e.g. kindness and couragereveal negative qualities like selfishness and

overconfidence

FOLKLORE Very often the same basic story

appears in different cultures. The similarities in these stories point to values that many cultures have in common.

Folklore stories can be grouped into four major categories: myths, folk tales, fables, and legends.

MythsMyths are stories that:Were created to answer questions about the world,

gods, and human lifeTell about events in the distant pastWere considered truthful and sacred by the

societies that created them

MYTHS Myths offer explanations of for “creation” and

for natural events:Creation of the earth, human beings – (almost

all culture have them), the first spiderThe change of seasons, the movement of the

sun

MYTHSMyths usually tell about adventures of gods orof human beings who come into contact withthem. These gods and goddesses hadextraordinary powers. The gods of ancientGreece were immortal-they could not die.

MYTHS Each god or goddess had his or her own specialareas of power. Yet divine powers were not unlimited.Even Zeus, the ruler of the Greek gods, could notalways get his way.

MYTHS In the myths of many cultures, the godspossess all the emotions and personality traitsof human beings. Greek myths tell about:Hera’s jealousyImpatience of PoseidonKindness of DemeterLike human beings, the gods usuallycombine a mixture of traits.

FOLK TALESIn contrast to myths, folk tales :Are not about gods or the origins of the worldAre told primarily for entertainmentAre not taken as truthful or factual by their

audience

FOLK TALESCharacters in folk tales are:Ordinary humans and personified animalsHumans are peasants or other people from

lower classesFrequently portrayed as having better values

than the rich and powerful

FOLK TALESThe tales are: Told in a simple styleEach character represents one human trait (one

dimensional) – greed, curiosity, kindness, evilMagic and enchantment play a key role

Folk TaleThemes of folk tales are simple:Reward of goodPunishment of evil Exposing a foolTrickster tales:Are comical and point out human weaknessesFound in most culturesA smart person or animal outwits or takes advantage

of a fool

FABLES

Fables are:Very short talesHave morals – principals of right behavior

clearly and directly statedCharacters are usually personified animals

LEGENDSLegends are:Considered factual by those who tell themMay have a basis in historical fact (Robin

Hood is based on an outlaw who actually existed).

Set in a past more recent than mythsInclude elements of magic and the

supernatural

FOLKLORE BOOKLET

TASK: You will create a booklet of originalfolklore stories.TITLE PAGE: List the four types of folklore Draw a symbol for each typ No white showing

FOLKLORE BOOKLET

INSIDE PAGES: Type of folklore Definition Title of story Story Colorful illustration

FOLKLORE BOOKLETEDIT FOR THE FOLLOWING: capitalization punctuation grammar sentence structure neatness

COMPARE/CONTRAST SIGNAL WORDS

COMPARE In a like manner Simultaneously Both Like

COMPARE/CONTRAST SIGNAL WORDS

CONTRAST The difference between As opposed to After all However Yet