Multicultural Folktales

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Multicultural Folktales

• Stories from around the World

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Introduction

• Until about 4000 BC all literature was folk
  literature.
• These stories were passed on through the oral
  tradition thus the different versions of the same
  story.
• A huge amount of imagination went into the
  creating/telling of these stories.
• The stories are concerned mostly with everyday
  people and focus on situations that human beings
  in general have experienced.
• Most folktales teach a moral or lesson.
• These stories reflect the life of the people of a
  particular region or of a particular country.

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Animal Tales

• The lessons are geared to survival and the
  rewards usually go to the crafty rather than the
  strong.
• Practical advice is either stated or implied.
• A favorite theme is how one beast outwits
  another.
• Example
• Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock

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Explanatory Tales

• Many myths fall into this category because they
  provide answers to questions all people have.
• These stories explain a wide variety of things as
  complex as how the world came into being to as
  simple as why the woodpecker has a long beak.
• Example
• Why Mosquitoes Buzz in Peoples Ears

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Romance Tales

• Stories usually have a plot that focuses on a
  young man (or woman) trying to win the hand of a
  princess(or prince).
• This is usually accomplished by somehow pleasing
  the father(king)or by performing some outstanding
  deed.
• The element of magic is not really included or
  plays a very small part in the story.
• Example
• The Three Princes

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Dilemma Tales

• These stories raise a question without providing
  an answer.
• The story presents both sides of the problem/case
  and allows the reader to decide the
  outcome/verdict.
• Example
• A Tug of War

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Fairy/Magic Tales

• These stories usually contain a hero that has a
  difficult life (such as being an unloved orphan
  or stepchild) with all the odds against him or
  her.
• The heros success depends upon the help (usually
  supernatural in nature) from others.
• The character moves from a terrible life to a
  world where he or she lives happily ever after.
• Example
• The Talking Eggs

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Requirements for folktales

• Your folktale must
• Meet or exceed the standard E2c
• Be one or a combination of the types of folktales
• Have a moral or a theme (teach a lesson)
• Be set in the country you studied in social
  studies
• Contain country/cultural information
• Contain dialogue
• Be a minimum of 8 pages
• Have a minimum of 8 illustrations
• Have a title page, dedication, and an about the
  author page
• Have a cover that includes an illustration and
  the countrys flag