Fairy Tales, Myths, Fables, and Legends

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Fairy Tales, Myths, Fables, and Legends

• By Miss Chaffee

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Fairy Tale

• A fairy tale is a story featuring folkloric
  characters such as fairies, goblins, elves,
  trolls, giants, and others. These stories often
  involve princes and princesses, and modern
  versions usually have a happy ending. Usually
  fairy tales start with Once upon a time..
• How many fairy tales have you read? Can you name
  3?
• Click here for examples Fairy Tales for children
  or Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Anderson.

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Myth

• What is a Myth? Myths deal with ancient stories,
  such as the adventures of the Greek gods.
  Mythology is a collection of traditional stories
  that express the beliefs or values of a group of
  people. The stories often focus on human
  qualities such as good and evil.
• They are often considered to be sacred and may
  explain how things came to be. The myths gave
  human emotions and qualities to the super-
  natural beings who were the heroes of their
  stories. These gods and goddesses helped or
  harmed mankind as they pleased.
• Mythweb

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Tall Tale

• A tall tale is a story that has these features
• A larger-than-life, or superhuman, main character
  with a specific job.
• A problem that is solved in a funny way.
• Exaggerated details that describe things as
  greater than they really are.
• Characters who use everyday language.
• Settlers who made their homes in the American
  wilderness first told tall tales. In those days,
  before TV and movies, people depended on
  storytelling for entertainment. After a long
  day's work, people gathered to tell each other
  funny tales.
• Each group of workers- loggers, cowboys,
  railroad and steel workers-had its own tall-tale
  hero. Having a superhuman hero with the same job
  somehow made their lives easier. Perhaps it gave
  them strength or courage to do their difficult
  and dangerous work.
• Animated Tall Tales
• Read about these tall tales Paul Bunyan, Johnny
  Appleseed, Pecos Bill

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Legend

• Legends are set in the present or recent past.
  Legends are supposedly true and are used to
  scare, teach, inform, or entertain. Legends are
  stories that are handed down through generations-
  usually by word of mouth. Examples Legend of
  King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table,
  Robin Hood,
• Legend Website

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Fable

• Just what is a fable, you ask?  Well, a fable is
  a kind of story that
• has animal characters that are smart, foolish,
  sly, or clever
• has a  character that plays tricks on other
  characters
• has a character that makes a bad decision
• has a moral or a lesson learned
• is short, sweet and to the point
• Click here to read some of Aesops fables.
• Click here to watch some animated versions of
  Aesops fables.
• Fable Webquest