Author: Marion Mittenzwey

E-mail: [email protected]

Subject World Literature

Level 12 Grade

These are the stories that never die, that are carried like seed into a new country
Meridel Le Sueur

1. What does the term folklore mean to you?
2.What are some special characteristics of folk tales?
3. What kinds of plots, characters, and settings do we expect to find in these stories?
4. What makes each folk tale unique?
5. How have illustrations been used to make folk tales more enjoyable?
6. Why are these stories transmitted from generation to generation?
7. Do you like listening to these stories?

Perhaps one day your grandmother told you a special story, one that was handed down in your family and it is nowadays a tradition in your family.
Now it will be your turn to learn some aspects of storytelling and to share your knowledge with others. You will research on the different cultures, check out what type of stories they liked and finally make a presentation on one of them.

You need to produce your team’s passport to world cultures. For this you will also need a map of the world and of your continent. You can check out the stories found in the links below or you can research at the library. Each team member should choose a different kind of folklore: folktales, fables, myths, legends, etc. to analyze as well as a different country.

For you passport cut in half 1/4 cardboard paper. The left half will become the cover of your passport. The first page should include your identifying information: names of team members, group, continent, teacher’s name and date. You will staple additional pages to the passport. Each subsequent pages will provide space for you to record information about the stories you will read. It must include:

1. The title of the story/tale.
2. Type of story defining and explaining it.
3. Name of student.
4. The story's country of origin.
5. Historical, cultural and social background for the time when your story took place.
6. A list of the main characters in the story and their description.
7. The setting of the story and its description.
8. A short summary of the story which should include: initial impulse, main rising actions, conflicts, climax and outcome.
9. Theme of the story.
10. Other relevant information.
Each team member adds his information to the passport.

On the world map and continent map locate and indicate with a special mark the location of the story. (Be as specific as possible.) These maps will be the last pages of your passport.

For the Storytelling Festival each team member should have a different job:
I. The Researcher
Your job will be to investigate more in depth about the country and culture that your team's story comes from. Use the links to find out about the history of the country, the people that lived there and what the place looked like. Find out if the geography of that country has any influence on the story. What other influences might be important in the creation of a story from a particular land? Does the culture of the country play a part in the outcome of the tale? Can you find any additional interesting information about the culture?
You will have to hand in a report on your findings, summarized from different sources and no copy/paste please. At the end of your performance, you will share this information with the rest of the class. For this you will bring in a cardboard, with a map of the continent and a map of the country of the tale's origin, and some pictures and illustrations related to the subject.
II. the Storytellers – two team members will be responsible.
Your job will be to write the script for the group and make sure everybody knows what to say. You will need to include the cast of characters, the dialogue and the props. You will also need to consider the costumes, props or music for your performance and what else you would like to have as a scenery for example. Ask the illustrator for help. Ask another teacher from the English department to proofread your work. You will have to hand in the original and corrected script with the illustrations, bound, the day of the performance.
III. The Illustrator
Your job will be to make illustrations for the script. They will need to make sure the pictures fit the story, time, geographical features and culture your group has chosen. As you are the designer you should help the storyteller with the costumes, props and music, and define who will be responsible for bringing what aspects the day of the performance. Don't forget. You will have to hand in the script with your illustrations the day of the performance.

Here you will find several websites that can help you in your research.

Individually you will be graded for:

a) The passport to world cultures – your story analysis. b) According to your role: the written report by the researchers, the script by the storyteller and the illustrations by the illustrator.

As a team you will be graded for your performance: your role in acting, your costume and props, and your explanation, if you are researchers.

You will have had the opportunity to compare and contrast characteristics of folktales, myths, and legends from around the world. You will have become familiar with some literature representative of all types of folklore and will have come to appreciate literature more by having researched on some background knowledge and history to understand the stories better. This will be your first introduction to “world literature”.

Yes, folklore can be confusing. What's the difference between a folktale and a fairy tale? Between a myth and a legend? Having finished doing this web quest, you should be able to answer these questions. Stories from different countries give us clues which help us to better understand the people and the life of the country. Whatever the type of folklore you enjoy more, hopefully, one thing is clear to you.

There are so many stories and so little time. Let's get going and read, read, read!

When checking out the sixth unit of Literature and Language - Red Level that deals with Folklore, the teacher's book suggests a Storytelling Festival which I considered something original.

I also got inspired by the following sites:
1. The Stories of Different Cultures WebQuest
2. From the Trunk of the Old Elm Tree -A WebQuest for the Study of Folklore
3. Dreaming Of Fairy Tales Webquest