FOLKLORE

Folktale is a word that refers to all kinds of stories that were originally in oral form. While many of these tales have been written down now, when reading them it is best to remember that they were once a way of passing history, teaching lessons, summarizing values, and entertaining. There are 4 general types of folktale.

1. Myths (believed) Sacred stories · creation of the world, people · origin of natural events · set in a place-less setting · set in a time-less time · involves gods/goddesses	2. Legends (believed) Historical stories · changes in the world · explains history · set in an historical place · set in a specific time period · involves humans (often heroes) and supernatural creatures		3. Fairy Tales (NOT believed) Unbelievable tales · show people in a world of magic · brave heroes who rescue helpless maidens · “all-good” and “all-bad” characters · begin with “Once upon a time”, and end with “Happily ever after” · character must complete a task to get a reward · often has a magic object to protect or help the main character
4. Animal Tales (believed and not believed)
Fable · talking animal characters · contain a moral or caution		Pourquoi · “How the ____ got its ____” · origin of particular animal characteristic		Trickster · contain an animal character important to a culture · trickster sometimes weak · trickster sometimes powerful · trickster is always intelligent

ANIMAL TALES

Animal tales are some of the oldest forms of folktales and are found everywhere on the globe. The primary characters are animals who act like people. These stories teach lessons about life. As you will see, it is often difficult to tell folktales apart. The most important thing, however, is to notice how the values taught in the tales are shared across all cultures. There are 3 main types:

FABLES (*)

Fables are short animal stories with a specific lesson, usually stated at the beginning or the end. While many of these stories seem very simple, they are about important values, or cautions. Some fables, in fact, are sacred in nature (like myths). The Jataka tales, for example, are from India, and they tell of how the Buddha changed into certain animals in order to teach lessons to humans.

POURQUOI (*)

Pourquoi tales explain the origin of certain characteristics of animals. They were often made to entertain. However, some of these tales teach a lesson as well (like fables). As well, if the animal in the story is a sacred one, then explaining its’ characteristics makes it sacred (like myth).

TRICKSTER (*)

Trickster tales contain an animal that is important to a culture. Tricksters are often powerful, able to take on other animal or human forms. Sometimes tricksters are weak, and they must use their wits to survive. Like fables and pourquoi-tales, trickster tales are often difficult to define. The trickster is often powerful, and can influence the human and supernatural worlds (like myth). Trickster tales can also teach lessons (like fables). All tricksters are intelligent; some must use their intelligence to outsmart more powerful characters, while others are too smart for their own good, often outsmarting themselves, making the stories funny.

(*) How to look for fable, pourquoi, and trickster tales

Fables: titles with one or two animal names Pourquoi: titles like, “How the _____ got its ______”

Trickster: Raven, Zomo (rabbit), Anansi (spider), Coyote, Br’er Rabbit, Fox, Manabozho (Rabbit), Turtle

ANIMAL TALE LOG

Whenever you read a tale, record the name, date it, classify it (fable, pourquoi, and trickster), tell why you chose the classification, and tell the theme/mainidea/moral

I read……	On…….	It was a ______________, because ……	The theme was ……

MORALS/IDIOMS/PHRASES

Many of the tales you have been reading contain many valuable lessons that we can learn from. Here are some of the most famous morals/idioms/phrases that you will probably hear said by someone in your life. Do you understand these lessons? Can you think of a tale or story that tried to show you one of these lessons? Has there ever been a time in your life when you realized one of these morals to be true?

It is useless attacking the insensible

Every man should be content to mind his own business

There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth

One good turn deserves another

A liar deceives no one but himself

Evil companions bring more hurt than profit

Fair weather friends are not worth much

Every tale is not to be believed

Every man for himself

Quality is better than quantity

It is easy to be brave from a safe distance

Appearances are deceptive

No gratitude from the wicked

Try before you trust

Appearances are deceptive	No one can be a friend if you know not whether to trust or distrust him
One good turn deserves another	Ah, people often grudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity	It is easy to kick a man that is down
He that finds discontentment in one place is not likely to find happiness in another	Better starve free than be a fat slave
A man is known by the company he keeps	Little friends may prove great friends
Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool	We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction
Never trust your enemy	Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
Revenge will hurt the avenger	Gossips are to be seen and not heard
He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends	Birds of a feather flock together
Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends	You can't please everybody
Evil wishes, like chickens, come home to roost	United we stand, divided we fall
Evil tendencies are shown in early life	Misery loves company
Do not attempt too much at once	Look before you leap
One man's pleasure may be another's pain	It is easy to despise what you cannot get
Whatever you do, do with all your might	A needy thief steals more than one who enjoys plenty
Nature exceeds nurture	Look before you leap
Necessity is the mother of invention	Let well enough alone
Plodding wins the race	Better no rule than cruel rule
There is always someone worse off than yourself	Greed oft over reaches itself
He that has many friends, has no friends	Benefits bestowed upon the evil-disposed increase their means of injuring you
We often despise what is most useful to us	Some men can blow hot and blow cold with the same breath
Nothing escapes the master's eye	Please all, and you will please none
He laughs best that laughs last	Honesty is the best policy
The gods help them that help themselves	Do not count your chickens before they are hatched
A man may smile yet be a villain	Try to please all and you end by pleasing none
If you allow men to use you for your own purposes, they will use you for theirs	The true value of money is not in its possession but in its use
The hero is brave in deeds as well as words	Those who pretend to be what they are not, sooner or later, find themselves in deep water
It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds	The best intentions will not always ensure success
If you must revile your neighbor, Make certain first that he cannot reach you	Every truth has two sides
We had better bear our troubles bravely than try to escape them	Enemies promises were made to be broken
Little friends may prove great friends	He who plays a trick must be prepared to take a joke
Even the wildest can be tamed by love	The memory of a good deed lives
It sometimes happens that one man has all the toil, and another all the profit	Trouble comes from the direction we least expect it
You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil	Those who suffer most cry out the least
Benefits bestowed upon the evil-disposed increase their means of injuring you	Fine feathers don't make fine birds
Greatness carries its own penalties

1. Myths (believed)

2. Legends (believed)

Historical stories

3. Fairy Tales (NOT believed)

Fable

Pourquoi

Trickster

ANIMAL TALES

FABLES (*)

POURQUOI (*)

TRICKSTER (*)

(*) How to look for fable, pourquoi, and trickster tales

ANIMAL TALE LOG

MORALS/IDIOMS/PHRASES

Do not attempt too much at once

ANIMAL TALES