Transcript Fairy Tales, Myths, Fables, and Legends

Fairy Tales, Myths, Fables,
Folktales and Legends
Roque Guerra, Jr. Elementary
Library
Fairy Tales
• 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
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
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
Legends
• 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 Knight’s of the Round
Table, Robin Hood,
• Legend Website
Fables
• 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 Aesop’s fables.
• Click here to watch some animated versions of Aesop’s
fables.
• Fable Webquest
Folk Tales
• Folktales are stories told by people.
• One Folktale you may remember is Jack and the Beanstalk.
• Folktales are stories that are told from generation to generation, like
the story of the tooth fairy.
• Many folktales are make believe.
• Some folktales are part make believe and part real.
• That means that the characters themselves were probably real
people.
• Some folktales teach a lesson like the story of the Tortoise and the
Hare.
• Also, in some folktales, animals can talk.
• Some folktales can be scary.
• Some folktales are also tall tales.
• That means they are exaggerated and sometimes funny.
Locations
• Where can I find books on Fairy Tales,
Myths, Legends, Tall Tales, and Folk
Tales?
– 398.2 Section
Works Cited
• Clip Art by Karen Kids, Inc. 2002
• http://library.stjosephsea.org/folklore.htm