Seventh Grade Language Arts

What is Folklore?What is Folklore?

Folklore is the traditions, custom, andFolklore is the traditions, custom, and

stories that are passed down within a stories that are passed down within a

culture. culture.

We are going to study:We are going to study:

FablesFables Folk Tales Folk Tales Trickster TalesTrickster Tales Legends Legends Myths Myths

What are What are fablesfables??

A brief story that teaches A brief story that teaches a lesson about human a lesson about human nature, which is called nature, which is called the the moral moral of the story. of the story.

Fables use a great deal of Fables use a great deal of personification, meaning personification, meaning there are animals that there are animals that act and speak like act and speak like human beings. human beings.

What are What are folk talesfolk tales? ? Folk tales are also known as fairy tales. Folk tales are also known as fairy tales.

They are stories that have been passed They are stories that have been passed from generation to generation by word from generation to generation by word of mouth.of mouth.

They are often set in a distant past with They are often set in a distant past with supernatural events. supernatural events.

There can be some personification, There can be some personification, characters as animals.characters as animals.

There also can be characters that have There also can be characters that have super human powers.super human powers.

Folk tales also can display a great deal of Folk tales also can display a great deal of magic. magic.

What are What are trickster talestrickster tales? ?

These are folktales that These are folktales that reflect an respect for reflect an respect for cleverness. There is cleverness. There is always one character always one character that plays a trick on that plays a trick on another. These tricks another. These tricks are often extremely are often extremely humorous. humorous.

What are What are legendslegends? ?

Legends are stories hand down Legends are stories hand down from the past about a specific from the past about a specific person- usually someone person- usually someone considered heroic. considered heroic.

They are usually on a real person They are usually on a real person or event in history.or event in history.

However, they are often However, they are often exaggerations. exaggerations.

What are What are MythsMyths??

Myths are traditional stories Myths are traditional stories that attempt to answer that attempt to answer unknown questions about unknown questions about the universe, the origin of the universe, the origin of the world, mysteries of the world, mysteries of nature, or social customs. nature, or social customs.

They often include gods, They often include gods, goddesses, and heroes.goddesses, and heroes.

Quiz Yourself!Quiz Yourself!1.1. MythMyth

2.2. FableFable

3.3. Legend Legend

4.4. Trickster TaleTrickster Tale

5.5. Folk TaleFolk Tale

a.a. uses animal characters, uses animal characters, funnyfunny

b.b. based on a real person or based on a real person or event event

c.c. usually has god and usually has god and goddessesgoddesses

d.d. One character is One character is celebrated from getting celebrated from getting over on another. over on another.

e.e. contains a lesson to be contains a lesson to be learned learned