AMERICAN FOLK AND TALL TALES

Foundations of a Nation

WHAT IS A FOLK TALE?

• “Folk” are people

• “Tales” are stories

KEY ELEMENTS:

• 1) Oral Tradition

• 2) Teach a lesson

• XYZ behaviors/attitudes result in ABC

consequences

• 3) Archetypal characters

• The liar, the thief, the clever child, the

stepmother, etc.

• 4) Dialect or slang (oral tradition)

• 5) Repetitive structure (oral tradition)

THE BEGINNING

• Many folk tales begin as a group’s attempt to

explain and understand the world around

them, both natural and spiritual.

• All cultures have folk tales.

FOLK TALES VS. FAIRY TALES

• Fairy tales usually contain an element of

magic, whereas folk tales usually don’t.

• Some folk tales are based on real people.

• Some real people become folk heroes.

FOLK TALES VS. TALL TALES

Tall tales are uniquely American and have:

1) a larger-than-life main character (superhuman) who has

a specific task

2) the problem is solved in a funny or outrageous way

3) details are exaggerated (larger than life)

4) characters who use everyday language (like folk tales)

**Many tall tales are based on actual people or on a

composite of actual people. Exaggeration is the major

difference between folk tales and tall tales.