Oral TraditionOral Tradition

Fairy Tales, Fables, Legends, Fairy Tales, Fables, Legends, and Mythsand Myths

Oral TraditionsOral Traditions

Oral traditions is a term that includes Oral traditions is a term that includes fairy tales, fables, legends and tall fairy tales, fables, legends and tall tales, and mythstales, and myths

Oral traditions were composed long Oral traditions were composed long ago, in many cases before books were ago, in many cases before books were available to the general publicavailable to the general public

Although each type has its Although each type has its distinctions, all oral traditions have a distinctions, all oral traditions have a shared purpose of teaching the reader shared purpose of teaching the reader a lesson about life.a lesson about life.

FairyTalesFairyTales

A fairy tale is a A fairy tale is a story composed story composed orally and then orally and then passed along by passed along by word of mouthword of mouth

• Intended to teach Intended to teach a moral lessona moral lesson

• Usually include Usually include magical elementsmagical elements

FablesFablesA fable is a brief story or poem, usually A fable is a brief story or poem, usually

with animal characters that talk, that with animal characters that talk, that teaches a lesson about life called a teaches a lesson about life called a “moral.”“moral.”

Legends and Tall TalesLegends and Tall Tales

Legends and tall tales are stories Legends and tall tales are stories handed down over generations that are handed down over generations that are generally believed to be historicalgenerally believed to be historical

They usually contain fantastic elements, They usually contain fantastic elements, such as people with extraordinary such as people with extraordinary abilities or characteristics.abilities or characteristics.

Legends and Tall Tales are sometimes Legends and Tall Tales are sometimes used to explain origins or natural used to explain origins or natural occurrencesoccurrences

Many legends and fables are Many legends and fables are influenced by cultural context - the influenced by cultural context - the background, customs, and beliefs of background, customs, and beliefs of the people who originally told the the people who originally told the story. story.

MythsMyths

Myths are stories usually containing Myths are stories usually containing super-human beings that explain super-human beings that explain natural occurrences and express natural occurrences and express beliefs about right and wrong.beliefs about right and wrong.

Myths are used to explain:Myths are used to explain:• Natural phenomenaNatural phenomena• Origins of animals, landmarks, Origins of animals, landmarks,

and natural entitiesand natural entities• Lessons about right and wrongLessons about right and wrong