folk tale
Quick Summary
Folktales are traditional stories, often circulated orally among a people, that describe imaginary events. They are a form of folk literature, which is distinct from written literature as it relies on memory and living culture for transmission. While folktales are generally considered fictional, they can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from myths or legends, especially in preliterate cultures where they might presuppose a background of belief about origins.12345
Key characteristics of folktales include their oral nature, the use of repetition and formulaic expressions to aid memory, and often a blend of realistic details with unrealistic or supernatural elements. Common characters include humans, animals, gods, giants, and monsters, and themes can range from simple social situations to encounters with supernatural adversaries. Folktales are virtually universal and can easily cross language and cultural boundaries, with many versions existing for the same story. Examples include "Cinderella," "Snow White," and "Jack and the Beanstalk".364578
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literatureThemes and their sourcesMyths, legends, and folktales lie at the beginning of literature, and their plots, situations, and allegorical (metaphorical narrative) judgments of life represent a constant source of literary inspiration that never fails. This is so because humankind is constant—people share a common physiology. Even social structures, after the development…
Read MoreMyths, legends, and folktales lie at the beginning of literature, and their plots, situations, and allegorical (metaphorical narrative) judgments of life represent a constant source of literary inspiration that never fails. This is so because humankind is constant—people share a common physiology. Even social structures, after the development…
Read More- literatureLiterature as a collection of genres
…and praised themselves); ballads and folktales of tragedy and murder; folk stories, such as the tale of the clever boy who performs impossible tasks, outwits all his adversaries, and usually wins the hand of the king’s daughter; animal fables like those attributed to Aesop; riddles, proverbs, and philosophical observations; hymns,
Read More…and praised themselves); ballads and folktales of tragedy and murder; folk stories, such as the tale of the clever boy who performs impossible tasks, outwits all his adversaries, and usually wins the hand of the king’s daughter; animal fables like those attributed to Aesop; riddles, proverbs, and philosophical observations; hymns,
Read More - short storyAnalysis of the genre
The tale is much older than the sketch. Basically, the tale is a manifestation of a culture’s unaging desire to name and conceptualize its place in the cosmos. It provides a culture’s narrative framework for such things as its vision of itself and its homeland or…
Read MoreThe tale is much older than the sketch. Basically, the tale is a manifestation of a culture’s unaging desire to name and conceptualize its place in the cosmos. It provides a culture’s narrative framework for such things as its vision of itself and its homeland or…
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Tar-Baby…central figure in black American folktales popularized in written literature by the American author Joel Chandler Harris. Harris’ “Tar-Baby” (1879), one of the animal tales told by the character Uncle Remus, is but one example of numerous African-derived tales featuring the use of a wax, gum, or rubber figure to…
Read More…central figure in black American folktales popularized in written literature by the American author Joel Chandler Harris. Harris’ “Tar-Baby” (1879), one of the animal tales told by the character Uncle Remus, is but one example of numerous African-derived tales featuring the use of a wax, gum, or rubber figure to…
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mythologies of the Indigenous peoples of the AmericasGeneral characteristics…gaps in the study of folktales indicate not a lack of interest but rather the difficulty in setting up suitable situations for recordings.
Read More…gaps in the study of folktales indicate not a lack of interest but rather the difficulty in setting up suitable situations for recordings.
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Greek mythologyFolktalesFolktales, consisting of popular recurring themes and told for amusement, inevitably found their way into Greek myth. Such is the theme of lost persons—whether husband, wife, or child (e.g., Odysseus, Helen of Troy, or Paris of Troy)—found or recovered after long and exciting adventures.…
Read MoreFolktales, consisting of popular recurring themes and told for amusement, inevitably found their way into Greek myth. Such is the theme of lost persons—whether husband, wife, or child (e.g., Odysseus, Helen of Troy, or Paris of Troy)—found or recovered after long and exciting adventures.…
Read More- Baltic religionSources of data
Baltic folklore—one of the most extensive folklores of all European peoples—contains the greatest amount of material, especially in the form of dainas (short folk songs of four lines each) and folktales. Folklore is especially valuable because it contains many concepts that elsewhere have been lost under…
Read MoreBaltic folklore—one of the most extensive folklores of all European peoples—contains the greatest amount of material, especially in the form of dainas (short folk songs of four lines each) and folktales. Folklore is especially valuable because it contains many concepts that elsewhere have been lost under…
Read More - Japanese literatureProse
…collection of religious stories and folktales drawn not only from the Japanese countryside but also from Indian and Chinese sources, described elements of society that had never been treated in the court novels. These stories, though crudely written, provide glimpses of how the common people spoke and behaved in an…
Read More…collection of religious stories and folktales drawn not only from the Japanese countryside but also from Indian and Chinese sources, described elements of society that had never been treated in the court novels. These stories, though crudely written, provide glimpses of how the common people spoke and behaved in an…
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JudaismJewish myth and legend…all the standard types of folktales are represented. Conspicuously absent, however, are pure fairy tales, because fairies, elves, and the like are foreign to the Jewish imagination, which prefers to populate the otherworld with angels and demons subservient to God.
Read More…all the standard types of folktales are represented. Conspicuously absent, however, are pure fairy tales, because fairies, elves, and the like are foreign to the Jewish imagination, which prefers to populate the otherworld with angels and demons subservient to God.
Read More- Korean literatureProse
include myths, legends, and folktales found in the written records. The principal sources of these narratives are the two great historical records compiled during the Koryŏ dynasty: Samguk sagi (1146; “Historical Record of the Three Kingdoms”) and Samguk yusa (1285; “Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms”). The most important myths…
Read Moreinclude myths, legends, and folktales found in the written records. The principal sources of these narratives are the two great historical records compiled during the Koryŏ dynasty: Samguk sagi (1146; “Historical Record of the Three Kingdoms”) and Samguk yusa (1285; “Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms”). The most important myths…
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Inner MongoliaCultural life…content and emphasis of Mongol folk legends vary somewhat with the location and with tribal or clan history concerning their origins, most clans have legends of their founders as either a mythical animal or a hero; others preserve legends about historical figures once prominent in the life of their clan.…
Read More…content and emphasis of Mongol folk legends vary somewhat with the location and with tribal or clan history concerning their origins, most clans have legends of their founders as either a mythical animal or a hero; others preserve legends about historical figures once prominent in the life of their clan.…
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