Folklore

Jessica Dockter University of Minnesota 2009

Adapted from Beth Brendler, 2008

Folklore “The oldest of stories”

Nursery rhymes, folktales, myths, epics, legends, fables, songs, and ballads

Passed down by story tellers – oral tradition

Folklore Folklore provides an opportunity for

increasing multicultural understanding. It reflects the values, hopes, fears, and

beliefs of many cultures.

Folklore

By recognizing the recurring themes in folklore from around the world, we create a bridge between peoples.

Universality of human values Learning archetypes

Evaluating Folklore Sounds like spoken language, with

rich natural rhythms Reflects the cultural integrity of

early retellings Preserves the simple,

straightforward plot structure of oral stories

Evaluating Folklore Explores significant universal

themes Illustrations

serve as examples of artistic excellence

compliment and extend the narrative reflect the cultural heritage of the tale

Characteristics Derives from oral tradition Heroes and heroines triumph over

adversity by employing such traits as: cleverness bravery supreme silliness

Characteristics

Short plots Little character development Straightforward moral

Characteristics Stories contain very little ambiguity

good is good evil is supremely evil

Conflict is identified early Resolution is decisive

Characteristics Themes express the values of the

people who created them Language is direct

vivid vernacular

Setting is geographically vague Time is vague

CharacteristicsCharacteristic Oral rootPlot is simple w/ a clear dramatic arc Suspense builds up to the climax; story ends quicklyPlots show success of the underdog Suggesting hope and possibility to audienceCharacters are stereotypes and flat Represents moral choices--good/evil, pride/humilityThemes are comment on humanity Shows a lesson or a cautionary tale common to peopleReflects the values and customs of culture Creates quick connection w/ hearers/ familiar contextHave repetitive element Helps continuity of oral taleInvolve audience/call and response Gives listeners reason to pay attention

Taken from:

http://pixel.fhda.edu/Content/Dept/InstrDev/Examples/Robert/Engl8/Lesson05/L5Learn.html

Characters Heroes Unusual births Required to go on a quest Have magical help Must prove themselves through many

trials Richly rewarded for their heroism

Characters Good mother (fairy godmother)

vsBad mother (wicked stepmother, witch)

Literary conventions Story frame Helps readers generalize the patterns

Once upon a time….they lived happily ever after

Long ago and far away

Literary conventions Western cultures Repeated use of the numbers 3 & 7

3 adventures, 3 tasks, 3 trials, 3 wishes, 3 blind mice, 3 pigs, 3 bears 7 dwarfs, 7 swans, 7 at one blow

Literary conventions Native American cultures Repeated use of the number 4

4 cardinal directions 4 sacred colors East = Red = success or triumph

North = Blue = defeat or trouble West = Black = death South = White = peace or happiness

Motif A recurring element, repetition of a

word or phrase, objects, ideas, characters.

Motifs Cinderella stories often contain a small shoe a flight from a ball a young sister who is mistreated a prince a wicked stepmother

Yen Shen– Chinese – one of the oldest documented Cinderella stories

Motifs Characters Gods, witches, fairies, tricksters, stepmothers Behave in stereotypical ways so readers can predict how they will behave A representative human can be used to stand for a character trait

Motifs Magical Objects, spells, curses, enchantments, and wishes Snow White Sleeping Beauty Beauty and the Beast Jack and the Beanstalk

Motifs Trickery, tricksters Anansi (a spider man)

Africa and the Carribean Rabbit

West African tales Tales from the South (Brer Rabbit)

Iktomi Plains Indians

ThemesEnchantment tales Good and evil is a metaphoric struggle between surface & deep qualities of goodness & beauty The Beast is a prince that was enchanted because he was unkind. Beauty is able to see the goodness that lies beneath his brutish exterior.

ThemesQuest Search for happiness or lost identity Hero succeeds only after repeated trials,

suffering, separation Exhibits courage, sacrifice, gallantry, and cleverness

Types of Folklore Nursery Rhymes

Folk verse Intended for very young children Baa, Baa, Black Sheep The Farmer in the Dell

Fables A brief tale that presents a clear moral The moral of the story is explicitly stated The Tortoise and the Hare The Ant and the Grasshopper

Types of Folklore Folktales

Cumulative Tales – each incident grows from a preceding one

The House that Jack Built There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

Talking Animal Tales – animals talk with each other or with human beings

Brer Rabbit, Anansi Uncle Remus

Types of Folklore Folktales cont.

Noodlehead Tales – characters who are pure hearted but lack good judgment

The Three Sillies Ole and Lena

Fairy Tales – magical tales with supernatural beings like trolls, giants, dragons, elves, ogres, fairies

Cinderella Snow White

Types of Folklore Folktales cont.

Tall Tales – indigenous to the United States combination of history, myth, and fact John Henry Johnny Appleseed

Types of Folklore Folktales

Hero Tales: Epic and Legends – stories focus on the courageous deeds of superhuman mortals and their struggles against each other or against gods and monsters

Illiad and the Oddessy King Arthur Gilgamesh

Epics are usually written in verse and consist of a cycle of tales that center on a legendary hero

Types of Folklore Folktales

Hero Tales: Epic and Legends – Hero tales that are not epics are called legends La Llorona/The Weeping Woman

Fractured Fairy Tales and Literary Folklore – True Story of the Three Little Pigs Big Momma Makes the World Cinder Edna

Folk Songs

Types of Folklore Mythology

Stories developed to help humans interpret natural phenomena and human behavior. Archetypal themes

life and death love revenge

Types of Folklore Mythology cont.

Creation myths Pourquoi stories

Explain why or how something happened or came to be

Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s Ears

Types of Folklore Mythology cont.

Greek and Roman Mythology The Illiad The Oddessy

Norse Mythology The Death of Balder Thor’s Hammer

Types of Folklore Mythology cont.

African Mythology Anansi the Spider : a Tale From the Ashanti The Leopard's Drum : an Asante Tale from West

Africa

Native American Myths Turtle's Race With Beaver : a Traditional Seneca

Story The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush

Variants of Folktales Cinderella

over 700 variants Charles Perrault, Brothers Grimm Persian, Irish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Creole, etc.

Sleeping Beauty Briar Rose

Good Sister – Bad Sister Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughter The Talking Eggs

Variants of Folktales Rumpelstiltskin

Duffy and the Devil The Girl Who Spun Gold The Rumpelstiltskin Problem Trit – a- Trot in Ireland Whuppity Stoorie in Scotland

Jack and the Beanstalk English folklore Jack Tales - American folklore