Folktales and Legends

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Folktales and Legends

• Today and Yesterday

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What is a Folk Tale?

• Look at the pictures? What do you think of?

3

• In small groups, create a definition of what you
  think a folk tale might be. There are NO wrong
  answers!!

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• Elements of the Folk Tale
• Character
• Setting
• Plot

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Characters in Tales

• Common characters a princess or prince, a poor
  girl or boy, youngest sister or brother, mean
  older sisters, cruel stepmother, giants, witches,
  or handsome princes.
• The main character either goes through a big
  change in the story OR they have larger-than-life
  abilities and conflicts to confront.

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• Common Settings
• Castles Mountains
• Cottages Rivers
• Forests Dungeons
• Wild west or desert

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Can you guess the plot?

• Give each group a few of the Folk tale? slips.
• Take turns placing them under the headings, Folk
  Tale or Non-Folk Tale.

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The PLOT of a Folk Tale

• Has elements like
• Hero has bad luck
• Hero must perform impossible tasks
• Also usually fights a villain
• Meets magical helpers
• Is treated badly
• And usually is in danger

• Hero or heroine is rewarded with wealth
• Hero is rewarded with a happy marriage
• Things tend to happen in threes (3 times)
• Magic or otherworldly qualities
• Villain is punished

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Non-Folk Tale Elements

• Hero always has good luck.
• Hero is always treated nicely.
• Hero is solves problems without any help
• Story is realistic NO MAGIC

• No one is punished in the story
• Hero is never in danger
• Hero does everyday ordinary things

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A Hunting You Will GO!

• In your same groups
• Read together the Folk Tale in front of you.
  As you read look for any elements that would make
  this story a folk tale. If you do not find
  evidence to prove the story is a folk tale, then
  prove its not by explaining what the story is
  missing.
• Be ready to report your findings to the rest of
  the class!

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Question of the day

• Is Superman a folk tale?
• Is Cinderella a folk tale?
• EXPLAIN and defend your answer!!!