Folk LiteratureAn Introduction

Types of Folk Literature

Myths and Legends

Epics

Folk Tales, Tall Tales, and Fairy Tales

Fables

Folk Songs

Proverbs

Myth

Traditional stories from particular cultures that deal with GODS, GODDESSES, and other SUPERNATURAL beings

Have a human (or human-like) hero

Embody religious beliefs and values

Explain natural occurrences (human creation, creation of the heavens, etc.)

Ex: “Perseus”

Legend

Story passed down through generations

Based on real events of characters from long ago

Have historical basis

May contain fantastic or unverifiable elements

Ex: George Washington chopping down the cherry tree; King Arthur

Folk Tales

Brief stories passed by word of mouth from generation to generation

Contain ordinary people

Ex: “Axe Murder Hollow”

Tall Tale

Lighthearted and humorous

Highly exaggerated, unrealistic

Ex: the story of Paul Bunyan

Fairy Tales

Mischievous spirits and other supernatural elements

Often in a medieval setting

Ex: Name some!

Fable

Brief stories

Animal characters

Express morals

Ex: “Tortoise and the Hare,” “Grasshopper and the Ant”

Proverbs

Also known as “adage”

Traditional short sayings

Give people advice about how to live

Expresses a belief generally thought to be true

Ex: “One bad apple spoils the bunch.”

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Archetypes

Story, character, motif, or theme representing a familiar pattern repeated throughout literature and across cultures.

One reason we can understand the universal meaning of traditional forms of literature

Ex: The Hero, The Mentor, the quest, rebirth, initiation, Temptress, Damsel in Distress, the Trickster (think “Bugs Bunny”)

Can you think of examples of these?

Questions

Why does folk literature often use repetition and archetypal elements?

Why do authors of other works refer to (allude to) folk literature so often?