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Folklore
Jessica Dockter University of Minnesota 2009
Adapted from Beth Brendler, 2008
Folklore “The oldest of stories”
Nursery rhymes, folktales, myths, epics, legends, fables, songs, and ballads
Passed down by story tellers – oral tradition
Folklore Folklore provides an opportunity for
increasing multicultural understanding. It reflects the values, hopes, fears, and
beliefs of many cultures.
Folklore
By recognizing the recurring themes in folklore from around the world, we create a bridge between peoples.
Universality of human values Learning archetypes
Evaluating Folklore Sounds like spoken language, with
rich natural rhythms Reflects the cultural integrity of
early retellings Preserves the simple,
straightforward plot structure of oral stories
Evaluating Folklore Explores significant universal
themes Illustrations
serve as examples of artistic excellence
compliment and extend the narrative reflect the cultural heritage of the tale
Characteristics Derives from oral tradition Heroes and heroines triumph over
adversity by employing such traits as: cleverness bravery supreme silliness
Characteristics
Short plots Little character development Straightforward moral
Characteristics Stories contain very little ambiguity
good is good evil is supremely evil
Conflict is identified early Resolution is decisive
Characteristics Themes express the values of the
people who created them Language is direct
vivid vernacular
Setting is geographically vague Time is vague
CharacteristicsCharacteristic Oral rootPlot is simple w/ a clear dramatic arc Suspense builds up to the climax; story ends quicklyPlots show success of the underdog Suggesting hope and possibility to audienceCharacters are stereotypes and flat Represents moral choices--good/evil, pride/humilityThemes are comment on humanity Shows a lesson or a cautionary tale common to peopleReflects the values and customs of culture Creates quick connection w/ hearers/ familiar contextHave repetitive element Helps continuity of oral taleInvolve audience/call and response Gives listeners reason to pay attention
Taken from:
http://pixel.fhda.edu/Content/Dept/InstrDev/Examples/Robert/Engl8/Lesson05/L5Learn.html
Characters Heroes Unusual births Required to go on a quest Have magical help Must prove themselves through many
trials Richly rewarded for their heroism
Characters Good mother (fairy godmother)
vsBad mother (wicked stepmother, witch)
Literary conventions Story frame Helps readers generalize the patterns
Once upon a time….they lived happily ever after
Long ago and far away
Literary conventions Western cultures Repeated use of the numbers 3 & 7
3 adventures, 3 tasks, 3 trials, 3 wishes, 3 blind mice, 3 pigs, 3 bears 7 dwarfs, 7 swans, 7 at one blow
Literary conventions Native American cultures Repeated use of the number 4
4 cardinal directions 4 sacred colors East = Red = success or triumph
North = Blue = defeat or trouble West = Black = death South = White = peace or happiness
Motif A recurring element, repetition of a
word or phrase, objects, ideas, characters.
Motifs Cinderella stories often contain a small shoe a flight from a ball a young sister who is mistreated a prince a wicked stepmother
Yen Shen– Chinese – one of the oldest documented Cinderella stories
Motifs Characters Gods, witches, fairies, tricksters, stepmothers Behave in stereotypical ways so readers can predict how they will behave A representative human can be used to stand for a character trait
Motifs Magical Objects, spells, curses, enchantments, and wishes Snow White Sleeping Beauty Beauty and the Beast Jack and the Beanstalk
Motifs Trickery, tricksters Anansi (a spider man)
Africa and the Carribean Rabbit
West African tales Tales from the South (Brer Rabbit)
Iktomi Plains Indians
ThemesEnchantment tales Good and evil is a metaphoric struggle between surface & deep qualities of goodness & beauty The Beast is a prince that was enchanted because he was unkind. Beauty is able to see the goodness that lies beneath his brutish exterior.
ThemesQuest Search for happiness or lost identity Hero succeeds only after repeated trials,
suffering, separation Exhibits courage, sacrifice, gallantry, and cleverness
Types of Folklore Nursery Rhymes
Folk verse Intended for very young children Baa, Baa, Black Sheep The Farmer in the Dell
Fables A brief tale that presents a clear moral The moral of the story is explicitly stated The Tortoise and the Hare The Ant and the Grasshopper
Types of Folklore Folktales
Cumulative Tales – each incident grows from a preceding one
The House that Jack Built There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Talking Animal Tales – animals talk with each other or with human beings
Brer Rabbit, Anansi Uncle Remus
Types of Folklore Folktales cont.
Noodlehead Tales – characters who are pure hearted but lack good judgment
The Three Sillies Ole and Lena
Fairy Tales – magical tales with supernatural beings like trolls, giants, dragons, elves, ogres, fairies
Cinderella Snow White
Types of Folklore Folktales cont.
Tall Tales – indigenous to the United States combination of history, myth, and fact John Henry Johnny Appleseed
Types of Folklore Folktales
Hero Tales: Epic and Legends – stories focus on the courageous deeds of superhuman mortals and their struggles against each other or against gods and monsters
Illiad and the Oddessy King Arthur Gilgamesh
Epics are usually written in verse and consist of a cycle of tales that center on a legendary hero
Types of Folklore Folktales
Hero Tales: Epic and Legends – Hero tales that are not epics are called legends La Llorona/The Weeping Woman
Fractured Fairy Tales and Literary Folklore – True Story of the Three Little Pigs Big Momma Makes the World Cinder Edna
Folk Songs
Types of Folklore Mythology
Stories developed to help humans interpret natural phenomena and human behavior. Archetypal themes
life and death love revenge
Types of Folklore Mythology cont.
Creation myths Pourquoi stories
Explain why or how something happened or came to be
Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s Ears
Types of Folklore Mythology cont.
Greek and Roman Mythology The Illiad The Oddessy
Norse Mythology The Death of Balder Thor’s Hammer
Types of Folklore Mythology cont.
African Mythology Anansi the Spider : a Tale From the Ashanti The Leopard's Drum : an Asante Tale from West
Africa
Native American Myths Turtle's Race With Beaver : a Traditional Seneca
Story The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
Variants of Folktales Cinderella
over 700 variants Charles Perrault, Brothers Grimm Persian, Irish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Creole, etc.
Sleeping Beauty Briar Rose
Good Sister – Bad Sister Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughter The Talking Eggs
Variants of Folktales Rumpelstiltskin
Duffy and the Devil The Girl Who Spun Gold The Rumpelstiltskin Problem Trit – a- Trot in Ireland Whuppity Stoorie in Scotland
Jack and the Beanstalk English folklore Jack Tales - American folklore
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