1. Folklore
The traditions, customs, & stories that are passed down within a culture. (FICTION)

2. Legends Usually about a specific person or creature
Usually have some basis in historical fact.
Tale about heroes and heroines & their deeds.
Courage & Cleverness in the face of danger
Objects become Symbols
Many events couldn’t actually happen in the real world.

3. Tall Tales Humorously exaggerated Story (Hyperbole) Impossible Events
Bigger, louder, greater
Impossible Events
Supernatural abilities of Main Character
Often linked to real Historical Time Period

4. Teaches a Moral or a Lesson
Fables
Teaches a Moral or a Lesson
Classical Fables-Main characters usually animals who act like humans.
Come right out & give you the moral
Modern Fables-Main characters usually humans.
You have to interpret the moral on your own

5. Folktales Oral story passed down from generation to generation.
Wise Lesson
Characters use their brains to solve problems
Typically have some grain of truth to them
Supernatural Events
Stylistic Elements
Magic Helper
Rule of 3
Characters: animals, people, or super humans
Represent qualities such as greed, honesty, or cleverness

6. Fairy Tales Very Similar to Folk Tales Characters Setting Conflict
Royalty (Queens & Kings)
Animals, Dragons, Fairies, Elves, etc.
Setting
Castle
Forest
Conflict
Good vs Evil
Story Elements
Magic Usually Solves the problem
Far-Fetched or hard to believe sequence of events

7. Myths Story that attempts to answer basic questions about:
Human Nature (Teach a Lesson or Give a Warning)
Origins of the world
Mysteries of Nature
Characters: gods/goddesses w/supernatural powers