Folk Literature

Oral Tradition The passing along of stories by word of mouth from one generation to the next

Characteristics of Folk Literature Universal Theme Fantasy Personification Irony Hyperbole Dialect Local customs

Universal Theme A message about life that can be understood by people of most cultures

Fantasy A type of writing that is highly imaginative and contains elements that are not found in real life Examples- Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit

Personification A type of figurative language in which a nonhuman subject is given human characteristics

Irony Involves surprising, interesting, or amusing contradictions

Hyperbole An exaggeration or an overstatement

Dialect Form of language spoken by people of a particular region or group

Local Customs Unique traditions or ways of life of a particular group Example- In the United States, it is customary to shake hands when first meeting someone.

Rule of Three A pattern where part of the story is repeated three times, with minor variations. The first two instances build tension, and the third releases it by incorporating a twist. Example: The three little pigs- pig one wasn’t successful; his house was built of straw while his older brother (3rd one) was the smart one and built his house of bricks! -Also…. The Three Stooges, Three Blind Mice…

Magic Helper Allows for things to occur that wouldn’t otherwise be possible They help characters with their problems allowing the plot to progress and the problem to be resolved. Example- The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella

Oral Tradition in Print Genres within oral tradition: Folk Tales Fables Myths Legends Fairy Tales

Folk Tales Were told to entertain and communicate the shared ideas of a culture Often deal with heroes, adventure, magic, or romance Examples- Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Johnny Appleseed, The Headless Horseman

Fables Brief stories or poems Usually contain animal characters that teach a lesson, or contain a moral that is stated directly Examples- The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Goose with the Golden Egg, The Mouse and the Lion, The Tortoise and the Hare

Myths Fictional tales that explain the actions of gods and heroes, or explain natural phenomena Examples- The stories of Zeus, Poseidon, Hermes, Athena, etc. Mythology - the study of myths

Legends A culture’s familiar and traditional stories Can sometimes refer to a well-known person, place, event, or literary work Examples- Legend of the Bluebonnet, Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, Davey Crockett, Robin Hood

Fairy Tales A type of folktale that emphasizes magic and the supernatural Example- Cinderella

Theme VS Topic Theme- what the author wants the reader to take away; a lesson that can be learned Topic- what the author is writing about

Theme VS Topic http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=theme+vs+topic+video&FORM=VIRE14&adlt=strict#view=detail&mid=A7F99545A9E7762671A0A7F99545A9E7762671A0

What is the TOPIC? What is the THEME? “Coming and Going” Norman Rockwell, 1947

The top picture shows the kids and dog happy and excited. This picture shows a family going on vacation and returning back after their vacation. The top picture shows the kids and dog happy and excited. The bottom picture shows everyone looking tired and not as excited and energized. Theme- returning home isn't as much fun as getting to your destination. Topic- family road trip

What is the TOPIC? What is the THEME? “A Girl with a Black Eye” Norman Rockwell, 1953

What is the TOPIC? What is the THEME? “The Body Builder” by Norman Rockwell, 1922