Oral Traditions Types of Storytelling

The Oral Tradition (Folktales/Folklore) Oral Tradition: the sharing of stories, cultures, and ideas by word of mouth. Collection of songs, poems, and stories that have been passed down through generations Although writers retell these stories in print, most of these stories originated long before reading and writing began. People used these stories to communicate shared beliefs and to explain their world. Each culture has its own variation of the same stories. Categories: folk tales myths, legends, tall tales, fables, epics, fairy tales, ghost stories

Characteristics of the Oral Tradition Theme: a central idea, message, or insight that is revealed within a story. Universal Theme: an idea that is repeated across many cultures and throughout many time periods. Moral: a lesson about life that is taught by a story.

Characteristics of Oral Tradition Heroes and Heroines: larger-than-life figures whose virtues and deeds are often celebrated in stories from the oral tradition.

Characteristics of Oral Tradition Storytelling Techniques are used by storytellers to bring the narrative to life 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: reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

Folk Tales/ Tall Tales Folk Tales: Tall Tales: Paul Bunyan tell stories about ordinary people. reveal the traditions and values of a culture and teach a lesson (clear separation between good and evil). stories about creation, origin of seasons (differ between cultures). Tall Tales: are types of folk tales that use hyperbole for comic effect. focus on a central hero who performs impossible feats. Paul Bunyan

Folk Tales African-American Folk Tales (freedom tales) are stories about enslaved Africans told to keep their hopes alive, despite the hardships they faced. Contain images of freedom and escape and allusions to the original storytellers’ native Africa. Trickster in Folk Tales is an animal character that tries to fool others. Usually a spider, a fox, or a coyote. In some stories he succeeds and in others he is fooled himself. In American, African, and West Indian folklore, tricksters take advantage of larger and stronger animals through cunning or magic. Anansi

Dialect in Folk Tales The form of a language that is spoken by people in a particular region or social group. Differs from standard English in pronunciation, grammar, word choice, and sentence structure. Used in retelling of folk tales to honor the oral tradition by helping the reader “hear” how the story was first told.

Myths Tales that explain the actions of gods, goddesses, and the heroes who interact with them. Every culture has its own collection of myths, or mythology, and these stories often attempt to explain the causes of natural phenomena. Pandora’s Box

Greek Mythology The ancient Greeks believed in a complex collection of gods and goddesses, ruled by Zeus. Zeus rules with his wife, Hera, from atop Mount Olympus. Beneath Zeus is a rank of many lesser gods and goddesses, each linked to ideas or qualities in nature. The ancient Greeks believed that the gods taught lessons to people who were too proud or arrogant.

Gods and Goddesses Poseidon (Neptune) god of the sea Zeus (Jupiter) ruler of gods and men Hera (Juno) goddess of marriage Demeter (Ceres) goddess of agriculture Hades (Pluto) god of the underworld Hermes (Mercury) messenger of the gods Aphrodite (Venus) goddess of beauty Ares (Mars) god of war Athena (Minerva) goddess of wisdom Persephone (Proserpina) goddess of springtime

Legends Traditional stories about the past. They are based on real-life events but over generations of retellings, legends often twist fact into fiction Feature larger-than-life people. Robin Hood

The Tortoise and the Hare Fables Brief stories featuring animals that speak and act like humans. End with a moral that is directly stated. The Tortoise and the Hare

Epics Long narrative poems about a larger-than-life hero who engages in a dangerous journey, or quest, that is important to the history of a nation or culture. Focus on the hero’s bravery, strength, and success in battle or adventure. Gods or powerful characters help the hero make his journey. The Odyssey

Check Your Understanding A story about the Greek God Zeus A narrative poem about the voyage of a great explorer A story in which a fox outsmarts a crow, then teases him A historical story about the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan that twisted facts about the sinking city A story that ends with a moral to treat others how you want to be treated

Tone The tone of a literary work is the writer’s attitude toward his or her subject and characters. Often described by a single adjective (EX. formal, playful, respectful). Factors that contribute to the tone include word choice, details, sentence structure, rhythm, and rhyme.