Folklore and Fairytales

 TTraditional fantasy has their beginnings around campfires and hearthside (cave paintings). BBorn in oral tradition – has no author. SStories are attributed to groups of people and cultures. SStories have been collected, retold, and recorded in print. SSimilarity of traditional tales around the world (cultures created similar stories in response to fundamental questions about themselves and world around them). Traditional Fantasy

 Part of every cultures history – have many features in common: generally short plot action is concentrated characters have 1 outstanding quality – “good or bad” settings are unimportant success stories – impossible odds themes- g ood vs evil power of perseverance almost always a happy ending the whys of the world We allude to the stories in everyday life

 “The Mother of all literature” Values of Fantasy Fantasy can bring about excitement in “let’s pretend”. Fantasy allows for emotional freedom. Fantasy can strengthen the capacity to believe or value something. Fantasy can offer hope. Traditional Fantasy

  Folktales:  cumulative tales – added on to; repetition; accumulation and rhythm  pourquoi tales – asks the question why; explains phenomena of nature  beast tales – talking animals and overstated action  trickster tales - variety of beast tale; trickster is sly, outwits others, mischievous, wise, and helpful  noodle head/numbskull – characters make mistakes; simpleton Types of Traditional Fantasy

 Folktales: (cont.) realistic tales – could have really happened; exaggeration is limited; only a few exist fairy tales – most magical; enchantment Tall Tales: exaggeration is major element many based on supposedly real individuals and marvelous deeds legendary characters whose stories were considered factual in ancient times Traditional Fantasy

 Fables: simple story whose action teaches a moral lesson of universal truths use of animals as symbols for human behavior is common Myths: explains origins of world and phenomena of nature stories of gods and goddesses every culture has myths; Greek myths well known often known as creation stories Traditional Fantasy

  Epics/Ballads/Legends:  all deal with heroes  epics are lengthy and could be a series of tales  ballads often in poetic form and sung to people  legends are a bit more historical (also like tall tales) Traditional Fantasy

 In Defense of Traditional Fantasy Voices against Traditional fantasy: psychological fantasy violence frightening to children waste of time Traditional Fantasy

 The Meaning of the Importance of Fairy Tales “To help adults become aware of the irreplaceable importance of fairy tales. By revealing the true content of such stories children are shown how to make use of the stories to help them cope with their baffling emotions whether they be feelings of smallness and helplessness or anxieties, how the child feels about strangers and the mysteries of the outside world. Taking the best known stories, in turn, demonstrates how the work, consciously or unconsciously supports and frees the child”. The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno Bettelheim, 1976 Traditional Fantasy

 Modern fantasy is distinguished from other genres by story elements that violate the natural, physical laws of our known world. The events could not happen in real life. Modern fantasy is not just make-believe. It still must have standards of: strong characters strong plot examine universal truths Modern Fantasy