Introduction to Folk Literature

Definition of Folk Literature Before writing, people were telling stories, reciting poetry, and singing songs about their beliefs, dreams, and experiences.  Much of this material formed part of the folk literature or works, ideas, or customs of a culture passed by word of mouth from generation to generation.

Definition continued…  Eventually many of these stories, poems, and songs were written down and have become an important part of world literature.  Works found in folk literature or oral traditions of peoples around the world include myths, legends, folk tales, fairy tales, fables, and proverbs.

Myth  Myth is a traditional story that usually presents supernatural events involving gods and heroes.

Words from Greek Myth  Labyrinth: “maze”-originally referred to a series of winding passages that was used to imprison a monster.  Odyssey: “long journey” originally referred to the twenty year journey of the hero Odysseus to reach home after the Trojan War.

Types Of Myths  Three types of common and widespread types are creation myth, origin myths, and hero myths.  A creation myth tells how the world and human beings came to exist.  Example: Joseph Bruchac’s “The Creation”

Types of Myths  An origin myth is a story that explains objects or events in the natural world.  Example: Olivia Coolidge’s “Arachne” A hero myth tells of the deeds and adventures of a hero The plots of hero myths often involve battles with monsters and the adventurous journeys known as quest. Example: Walker Brent’s “The Twelve Labors of Hercules”

Types of Myths  A type of story related to the myth is the legend. A legend is a traditional story that is popularly thought of as historical but lacks evidence to verify that the events occurred.  Examples: Trojan War and King Arthur

Value of Myth  Every early culture around the world created its own myths to explain the world around them. Learning about these myths can help you better understand the cultures that produced them.

Value of Myth  Examining myths also can provide an effective way to compare and contrast the beliefs and values of different traditional cultures. In addition, understanding myths can help you better understand your own culture, characters, events, and ideas from myths often appear in contemporary literature. Becoming familiar with myths from around the world will help you identify these references in other works in everyday life.

Folk Tales and Fairy Tales  Folk tales are stories passed by word of mouth from generation to generation. Also refer to any type of story in folk literature that could have taken place anywhere and any time and that are considered anonymous (created by an unknown person).  Example: “Hansel and Gretel” and “Little Red Riding Hood”

Folk Tales and Fairy Tales  Fairy Tales are folk tales that contain supernatural beings, such as fairies, dragons, ogres, and animals with human qualities.  Examples: Cinderella, Snow White, and Puss in Boots

Fables and Proverbs  A fable is a brief story that frequently includes animal characters and a moral.  Aesop’s fables are the most famous fables  A proverb is a short familiar saying often passed down through the oral tradition that expresses a basic truth about life.  Example: “ A fool and his money are soon parted”