Folklore: Stories from the Oral Tradition
The history of folklore is based on oral tradition. It is understood that these oral stories do not have an original version or an author. As people share tales, more details were altered.
In the past, adults gathered around campfires and told stories and tales that involved magic and talking animals. Usually, the children will join on the side and listen to tales told by the elders.
Traditionally, this was also a form of entertainment used to teach morals and values, such as friendship, bravery, humility, respect, and other related aspects.
In the past, adults gathered around campfires and told stories and tales that involved magic and talking animals. Usually, the children will join on the side and listen to tales told by the elders.
Traditionally, this was also a form of entertainment used to teach morals and values, such as friendship, bravery, humility, respect, and other related aspects.
Some of the best-known tales in Western culture history are "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Little Red Riding Hood." All these tale shave different versions, but the central topic and theme remain consistent. |
|
|
Types of Folklore
Folktales
Cumulative tales: Cumulative tales are stories that are “added upon” as the telling unfolds. Typically, the story is told up to a certain point, until a new segment is added.
Image retrieved from: https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/
Pourquoi tales: Pourquoi in French means “Why.” These folktales answers questions or give explanations for the way things are, particularly in nature.
Beast Tales: Beast tales are stories with animals as main characters. The animals represented in these
stories are personified as human beings.
Trickster tales: Trickster tales are a type of beast tales in which main character outsmart everyone else in the tale.
Noodlehead, or numbskull tales: These tale are humorous and portray characters that are not too bright. Characters in these stories make a mess of things with extremely reckless mistakes.
Realistic tales: Realistic tales are based on historical event or an actual person from history. These folktales have few elements of fantasy.
Fairy Tales: Of all the folktales, Fairy tales are the most magical. They are enchanted and go beyond fairy godmothers, wicked witches and magical objects. Fairy Tales are extremely prevalent with young children.
Image retrieved from: https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/
Pourquoi tales: Pourquoi in French means “Why.” These folktales answers questions or give explanations for the way things are, particularly in nature.
Beast Tales: Beast tales are stories with animals as main characters. The animals represented in these
stories are personified as human beings.
Trickster tales: Trickster tales are a type of beast tales in which main character outsmart everyone else in the tale.
Noodlehead, or numbskull tales: These tale are humorous and portray characters that are not too bright. Characters in these stories make a mess of things with extremely reckless mistakes.
Realistic tales: Realistic tales are based on historical event or an actual person from history. These folktales have few elements of fantasy.
Fairy Tales: Of all the folktales, Fairy tales are the most magical. They are enchanted and go beyond fairy godmothers, wicked witches and magical objects. Fairy Tales are extremely prevalent with young children.
Tall tales
Fables
Fables are typically short stories with the objective to teach a lesson or moral to readers and listeners. An example of a fable is picture book, Doctor Coyote: A Native American Aesop's Fables by John Bierhorst (1987). It is a famous collection of Native American fables.
myths
Myths derive from early accounts of people trying to understand the world around them. Myths help define human existence and often includes the retelling of the creation of the world. Greek myths are, by far, most popular because they are well-known in the Western culture. A Guamanian example of a myth is The Giant Fish Who Almost Ate Guam in Half. Overall, myths describe the mysteries of the planet, tells of gods and goddesses, and heroic quests. |
epics, ballads, and legends
Epics: Epics are detailed and lengthy stories about heroes. Examples of epics include the following:
- The Trojan War (Iliad) - The Odyssey - Beowulf Ballads: Ballads are stories about heroes presented in the form or poetry. In Europe, people provide entertainment by singing ballads about legendary and mythological heroes. Legends: Legends often have a more historic background. Some examples of legends include: Robin Hood, Arthur, and Johnny Appleseed. |
Religious stories
These stories are often stories that originate from the ancient writings of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, etc. Some religious stories include: The Miracle of Hanukkah by Seymour Chwast (2006) and Caldecott-winning Baboushka and the Three Kings by Ruth Robbin (1960).
In defense of folk and fairy tales
Psychological Fantasy
Psychological fantasy is the ability to distinguish what is real. Some critics believe that by allowing children to read fantasy stories, they will "lose touch with reality". However, this is not true. They are less at risk of losing touch of the real world. Studies have shown that the world of psychological fantasy can act as a vent for children to release their frustration and help succeed in the world.
Violence
Due to the fact that much of the violence contained in folklore are directed towards "bad people", some critics believe that this will promote violence in children, which was proven wrong by psychologist, Ephraim Biblow. Biblow actually stated that those students who are exposed to rich fantasy tend to decrease in aggressive behaviors and vice versa. In his study, the child of low-fantasy displayed more aggressive behaviors during play, while the high-fantasy child approached with a more creative and structured verbal response.
Frightening for Young Children
Some educators believe that young children cannot handle folktales because some folktales might cause fear and phobias from all the violence happening. However, there are different versions that do not involve violence. For example, there are two versions of the story, The Three Little Pigs." One version, the pigs end with a brutal death, and the other version the pigs are not eaten are boiled to death. It is important for educators to choose folktales that are age-appropriate for their readers. Nowadays, there are a variety of stories designed for different age and comprehension levels that
Waste of Time
Some parents and educators believe that children should spend the majority of their time learning from realistic books. However, studies have shown that exposure to fantasy fosters creativity and allows children to make real world deductions in a way that is stimulating and meaningful for them.
Psychological fantasy is the ability to distinguish what is real. Some critics believe that by allowing children to read fantasy stories, they will "lose touch with reality". However, this is not true. They are less at risk of losing touch of the real world. Studies have shown that the world of psychological fantasy can act as a vent for children to release their frustration and help succeed in the world.
Violence
Due to the fact that much of the violence contained in folklore are directed towards "bad people", some critics believe that this will promote violence in children, which was proven wrong by psychologist, Ephraim Biblow. Biblow actually stated that those students who are exposed to rich fantasy tend to decrease in aggressive behaviors and vice versa. In his study, the child of low-fantasy displayed more aggressive behaviors during play, while the high-fantasy child approached with a more creative and structured verbal response.
Frightening for Young Children
Some educators believe that young children cannot handle folktales because some folktales might cause fear and phobias from all the violence happening. However, there are different versions that do not involve violence. For example, there are two versions of the story, The Three Little Pigs." One version, the pigs end with a brutal death, and the other version the pigs are not eaten are boiled to death. It is important for educators to choose folktales that are age-appropriate for their readers. Nowadays, there are a variety of stories designed for different age and comprehension levels that
Waste of Time
Some parents and educators believe that children should spend the majority of their time learning from realistic books. However, studies have shown that exposure to fantasy fosters creativity and allows children to make real world deductions in a way that is stimulating and meaningful for them.
suggested reading list
One of Guam's Favorite legends
Page collaboration by: Vanessa Ibanez-Ignacio, Inez Santos, Maria Elena Quiogue, and Tamarie Fegurgur
Tunnell, M.O., Jacobs, J.S., Young, T.A, & Bryan, G. (2012). Children's literature, briefly. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Folklore. (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2016 from https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=folklore
Tunnell, M.O., Jacobs, J.S., Young, T.A, & Bryan, G. (2012). Children's literature, briefly. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Folklore. (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2016 from https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=folklore