Storytelling: History, Folktales

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Storytelling History, Folktales The Process of
Storytelling
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History

• Originally, storytelling was a community event
  and one of the few forms of entertainment in
  society.
• Bards, minstrels, and raconteurs have reveled in
  telling epic poems, stories and songs
• Today storytellers are a respected part of world
  culture.

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The Role of The Storyteller

• Storytellers have played an integral role in many
  cultures
• Before written words, spoken words were the means
  of communication
• Words were the way history, laws, social mores
  and moral truths were shared
• Stories were the way to relay the these messages
  to be easily understood

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Social Functions

• Convey messages of local culture
• Dual functions working and entertaining to pass
  the time and keep others alert during tedious
  work
• Fisherman while repair nets, boats in winter
• Stringing, smoothing and sorting tobacco
• Evening-making for communal tasks formerly
  completed by families

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Books, Industry Literacy

• The advent of books and education for the elite
  relegated folktales to lower classes.
• The spread of industry, literacy and culture
  further marginalized folklore into the childrens
  realm
• Content evolved to embody hopes of less fortunate
  and increased in variety

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In Recent History

• Storytelling still serves many of the original
  purposes
• Storytelling also serves the purposes of literacy
  and literary appreciation
• Storytelling exposes listeners to sounds and
  rhythms of words, the resonance of voice, the
  sequence and parts of stories

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In Libraries

• As early as 1899 Frances Jenkins Olcott made a
  regular part of programs
• For school aged children
• The arrival of Marie Shedlock in America brought
  widespread appreciation for storytelling as an
  art valued as a tool to bring books and children
  together
• Storytime became part of libraries nationwide

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Folktales

• Three Principal Factors equally essential to the
  existence of a folktale
• Traditions or communal contribution of past
  bearers of traditions
• Present storytelling in the community
• The narrator
• Simultaneous interaction of the three factors
  result in the development of the tale

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Evolution

• Folktales evolve gradually
• Each telling reflects each new tellers
  adaptations and nuances
• So, the story becomes a cumulative, constant, and
  not individual but collective
• The traditional folktale served as a model,
  molded by the teller, reflecting the community,
  its interest and history.

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Folktales are . . .

• Traditional tales passed down teller to teller
  over time
• Hallmarks
• Come to a swift conclusion
• full of actions carried out by main characters
• Simple and direct
• Relay ideas, customs, beliefs with amusement

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Favorite Folktales

• Hobyahs
• Mollie Wuppie
• Three Billie Goats Gruff
• A Story, A Story
• The Gunniwolf
• The Gingerbread Man

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The Storytelling Process

• Selection
• Sources
• Process
• Critique

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Selection Choose Stories . . .

• The Power to choose involves knowledge of self,
  knowledge of storytelling literature and
  knowledge of the group to whom one is telling.
  (Baker and Greene)
• You like
• That have meaning for you
• That have something to say

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Choosing The Story what makes a good one to tell?

• A good story has vision, integrity, something to
  hold onto, and sound values that are implicit but
  not didactic.
• Characteristics of a good story
• A single, clearly defined theme
• Well-developed plot
• Style sounds, rhythms, vivid word imagery
• Dramatic appeal
• Characterization
• Faithfulness to the source
• Appropriate for the audience

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Sources Finding The Story

• Start with the Basics
• Indexes Storytellers Sourcebook
• Story collections
• Picture books
• Read, Read, Read
• Different versions of the same tale from picture
  books and collections

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Process Learning The Story

• Read the story several times to learn the basic
  plot. Reading more than one version helps in
  developing unique telling.
• Write the story down.
• Tape the story.
• Create a map of story sequences or outline the
  major points.
• Practice on a friend, as you drive
• Imagine the story without speaking

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Developing The Story

• Think about the characters
• What kind of voices they have, what they look
  like, whats unique about them
• Let the characters speak for themselves
• Think about words
• Key phrases specific language
• Repeated phrases that allow participation or
  for the teller to find their place

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Honing The Story

• Storytelling as an intuitive process
• Trying the story on different audiences
• Letting go of the story after you have learned it
  to make it unique

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Critiquing The Story

• A positive peer group process
• Support listen with respect
• What works and something to grow on
• Remember the elements of a good story
• Be prepared to listen objectively

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The Critique you your peers

• Rate The Storyteller excellent, good, fair,
  poor
• Intro
• Selection
• Mastery
• Interpretation
• Eye Contact
• Gestures
• Overall
• Comments