Name Hour
Folktales: Stories of Peopleby David Adams Leeming
Pages 460-461
(from Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language)
tale – n –That which is told or related; a story.
folk – n –People of a particular group or class or A people; nation; or race
FOLK TALES
In your own words, write the definition of a folk tale based on the definitions above.
On page 460, Leeming says that, “Folk tales have no single author.” How can this be
true?
An example of a folk tale can be found in your book on page 466 – Brer Rabbit and Brer Lion
Explain the trick that Brer Rabbit plays on Brer Lion.
Think of cartoons that you have seen. What cartoon do you think would pull this trick or a similar trick? Why did you choose this character?
A FBE is a kind of folk tale that uses to teach us practical about .
Example: Breer Possum’s Dilemma - p452
What dialect is used in this fable?
Write a line from the fable where the writing reflects the dialect.
ex.- He was a fine feller. (p453)
List the talking animal characters from this fable.
In your own words, Explain the lesson about life given on the last three lines of the fable. (p455)
Recap: A folk tale is . One type of folk tale is a .
MYTHS
What is a myth?
Read the MYTH section of page 712.
According to the FOLK TALE section on page 709, what is the difference between folk tales and myths?
Nearly every culture has . These are stories that explain how the world came to be or how human beings were created.
Example of a creation myth: Coyote Steals the Sun and Moon - p462
Explain the trick the Coyote plays on Eagle.
How is a trickster an example of a motif?
TRICKSTER
What does this myth try to explain about world?
LEGENDS
Legends are stories that are handed down from generation to generation just like myths and folk tales. However these stories were inspired by real and real . Yetthe abilities and achievements of these people are often exaggerated.
**Legends are different from myths because legends include references to real people or events, myths are imaginary.
Examples of a legend: Davy Is Born (p521)
Did Davy Crockett really exist?
List 4 examples of exaggeration from this legend.
Some legendary people are included in humerous, highly exaggerated stories that are not even
meant to be believed. These stories are called .
Examples of tall tales: They Have Yarns (p496) and Pecos Bill and the Mustang (p501)
List 4 examples of exaggeration from the tall tale, “They Have Yarns.”
Who is the protagonist in the tall tale, Pecos Bill and the Mustang?
Did this person really exist?
List 4 examples of exaggeration from the tall tale, Pecos Bill and the Mustang.
Think about what you know about life on the American frontier. In your opinion, why would settlers create tall tale heroes like Pecos Bill?
What is an urban legend?
How are urban legends different from most folk tales?
What is a motif? (Refer to pages 461, 709 for clarification.)
Give an example of a motif.
From Page 480
Comedy –
Irony-
List and explain the three types of irony.