Oral Tradition

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Oral Tradition

• Fairy Tales, Fables, Legends, and Myths

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Oral Traditions

• Oral traditions is a term that includes fairy
  tales, fables, legends and tall tales, and myths
• Oral traditions were composed long ago, in many
  cases before books were available to the general
  public
• Although each type has its distinctions, all oral
  traditions have a shared purpose of teaching the
  reader a lesson about life.

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FairyTales

• A fairy tale is a story composed orally and then
  passed along by word of mouth
• Intended to teach a moral lesson
• Usually include magical elements

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Fables

• A fable is a brief story or poem, usually with
  animal characters that talk, that teaches a
  lesson about life called a moral.

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Legends and Tall Tales

• Legends and tall tales are stories handed down
  over generations that are generally believed to
  be historical
• They usually contain fantastic elements, such as
  people with extraordinary abilities or
  characteristics.
• Legends and Tall Tales are sometimes used to
  explain origins or natural occurrences

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

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Myths

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

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• Myths are used to explain
• Natural phenomena
• Origins of animals, landmarks, and natural
  entities
• Lessons about right and wrong