Tall Tales & Legends Unit 3

Quote “These are the stories that never, never die, that are carried like seed into a new country, are told to you and me and make it us new and lasting strengths” - Meridel Le Sueur

About Tall Tales and Legengs Important part of American Folklore First spread by word of mouth (like myths and fables) Based on real people, places, or events Some events are true; others are not Characters are larger than life Stories often come from the American Frontier

Folklore In every culture, people develop stories, customs, and traditions they want to pass down from generation to generation. Does your family have any traditions? Stories they always tell? These become part of a culture’s folklore.

Different Folklore in America People from different countries settled in the United States They brought their own customs, traditions, and stories with them – their own folklore Their stories got mixed together and became American Folklore

Example Stories in African Folklore were sometimes about Trickster Rabbit, who was very clever and outsmarted his enemies. Soon, Trickster Rabbit evolved into the American Folklore character known as B’rer Rabbit

Word of Mouth Like Fables and Myths, Tall Tales and Legends first started as just stories people told – did not write them down Storytellers could focus on making them interesting to capture the attention Each story is told differently, details are not always the same

American Frontier Many stories focus on the American Frontier and the Pioneers who settled there.

Larger Than Life Characters Smarter Taller Stronger Braver Joe Margarac could melt steel with his hands Pecos Bill rode a cyclone

Characters Some characters are actual people who really lived at some point in time Daniel Boone Davy Crocket Some are just imaginary, but living during a real event or in a real place

Journal Compare and Contrast Tall Tales and Legends, Fables, and Myths.