Folklore

LGA 3103 Stories for Young LearnersWeek 1:FolktalesPrepared by: AmirrulAmirRolandJamesJohnWhat is folklore?Folklore is a broad field of study that concerns itself with the ways in which people make meaning in their lives. study of folklore is sometimes called folkloristicFolkloreCan be divided into four area of studies1. Aartefact (such as voodoo dolls)2. describable and transmissible entity (oral tradition)3. Culture4. Behaviour (rituals)Myths, legends, folktales, jokes, proverbs, riddles, chants, charms, blessings, curses, oaths, insults, retorts, taunts, teases, toasts, tongue-twisters, and greeting and leave-taking formulas (e.g., See you later, alligator) and etc

Examples of folkloresWhat is mythology?A body or collection of myths (a mythos) as well as the study of them In folkloristicss view, a myth is a sacred narrative usually explaining how the world or humankind came to be in its present form

MythologyMain characters are usually: Gods, supernatural heroes and humansAs sacred stories, usually endorsed by rulers and priests and linked to religion or spirituallyExplain how the world gained its current form, how customs, institutions and taboos were establishedCharacteristics of mythologyThe earth-maker myth (Native American mythos, California)The Primary Chronicle (Slavic mythos, 12th century)Examples of mythsIs a succinct fictional story, in prose or verseFeatures animals, mythical creatures, plants, inanimate objects or forces of nature which are anthropomorphized (given human qualities)Differs from parables in the latter excludes animals, plants, inanimate objects and forces of nature as actors that assume speech and other powers of humankind.FablesAesop (620-564 BC)Examples:The Lion and the Mouse FableThe Dog and the Shadow FableThe Town Mouse and the Country Mouse FableThe Ant and the Grasshopper FableThe Bear and the Two TravelersThe Hare and the TortoiseThe Fox and the GrapesFabulists:

Legends are set in the present or recent past. Legends are supposedly true and are used to scare, teach, inform, or entertain.While they may be true, they tend to be exaggerated, or distorted over time. Legends are stories that are handed down through generations- usually by oral tradition.

LegendAlways about humans but can have magic or supernatural eventsBased on real people who are considered heroesStory handed down for many yearsPassed off as a true storyExamples: -Legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, -Robin Hood

A story from the past about a subject that was, or is believed to have been, historicalMany legends tell about human beings who meet supernatural creaturesHistorical but not always factualCharacteristics of a LegendModern folklore consisting of stories believed by their tellers to be trueSet in todays time; not historicalContains an element of mystery, horror, fear or humorRarely able to be traced to original origins and if they can be traced, the connections are often obscured by later embellishment or adaptationUrban LegendOften told on behalf of the original witness or participant. Ex. I know someone whoDire warnings are often given to those who might not heed the legends warningInclude a degree of plausibilityElements of Urban LegendsParableAparableisa succinct story, inproseorverse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or (sometimes) anormativeprinciple. It differs from afablein that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human characters. It is a type ofanalogy.The word "parable" comes from theGreek (parabol), meaning "comparison, illustration, analogy".It was the name given byGreekrhetoriciansto any fictive illustration in the form of a brief narrative. Later it came to mean afictitious narrative, generally referring to something that might naturally occur, by which spiritual and moral matters might be conveyed.A parable is a short tale that illustrates universaltruth, one of the simplest ofnarratives. It sketches asetting, describes anaction, and shows theresults. It often involves a character facing amoraldilemma, or making a questionable decisionand then suffering theconsequences. Though the meaning of a parable is often not explicitly stated, the meaning is not usually intended to be hidden or secret but on the contrary quite straightforward and obvious.The defining characteristic of the parable is the presence of a prescriptive subtext suggesting how a person should behave or believe. Aside from providing guidance and suggestions for proper action in life, parables frequently usemetaphoricallanguage which allows people to more easily discuss difficult or complex ideas. Parables teach anabstractargument, using aconcretenarrative which is more easily graspedThe parable can be distinguished from other narrative types which have a moral content, such as theapologueand theallegory, although this distinction has not always been clear.Examples of parables include:TheParables of JesusIgnacy Krasicki's "Son and Father", "The Farmer", "Litigants" and "The Drunkard".The Rooster Prince aHasidicparable.The Stanley Parable

http://www.taleswithmorals.com/http://www.longlongtimeago.com/llta_fables_aesop.htmlhttp://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/children-fableshttp://www.taleswithmorals.com/aesop-fable-the-lion-and-the-mouse.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fablehttp://www.eastoftheweb.com/cgi-bin/read_db.pl?subgenre_display=2&genre=children&search_field=subgenre&search_for=fables&order_by=author_last,title&page=1&type_ind=storieshttp://www.kids-pages.com/folders/stories/Aesops_Fables/page1.htmReferences: