Folk literature is characterized by oral tradition, themes that convey insights into life, and purposes like explaining cultural perspectives or entertaining. Common elements include heroes and heroines who overcome obstacles, tricksters who get into trouble, personification of nonhuman subjects, and hyperbole or exaggerated language. Forms of folk literature are myths about gods and goddesses, legends based on real events, tall tales about central heroes' feats, folk tales reflecting cultural values, fables with animals and morals, and epics telling of heroes' quests.
Folk literature is characterized by oral tradition, themes that convey insights into life, and purposes like explaining cultural perspectives or entertaining. Common elements include heroes and heroines who overcome obstacles, tricksters who get into trouble, personification of nonhuman subjects, and hyperbole or exaggerated language. Forms of folk literature are myths about gods and goddesses, legends based on real events, tall tales about central heroes' feats, folk tales reflecting cultural values, fables with animals and morals, and epics telling of heroes' quests.
Folk literature is characterized by oral tradition, themes that convey insights into life, and purposes like explaining cultural perspectives or entertaining. Common elements include heroes and heroines who overcome obstacles, tricksters who get into trouble, personification of nonhuman subjects, and hyperbole or exaggerated language. Forms of folk literature are myths about gods and goddesses, legends based on real events, tall tales about central heroes' feats, folk tales reflecting cultural values, fables with animals and morals, and epics telling of heroes' quests.
Folk literature is characterized by oral tradition, themes that convey insights into life, and purposes like explaining cultural perspectives or entertaining. Common elements include heroes and heroines who overcome obstacles, tricksters who get into trouble, personification of nonhuman subjects, and hyperbole or exaggerated language. Forms of folk literature are myths about gods and goddesses, legends based on real events, tall tales about central heroes' feats, folk tales reflecting cultural values, fables with animals and morals, and epics telling of heroes' quests.
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Folk Literature Characteristics of Folk Literature
1.Heroes and heroines – larger-than-life figures who
Elements of Folk Literature over-come obstacles or participate in exciting 1.The oral tradition – sharing of stories by word of adventures mouth Often featured in….myths, legends, epics 2.The Importance of The Story Teller 2.Trickster – a clever character who can fool others but – Stories in oral tradition were created thousands of often gets in trouble years ago Often featured in….folk tales, fables -No one knows the first storytellers 3.Personification – a type of figurative language in -New storytellers add and change details which nonhuman subjects are given human qualities -Cultural perspective – view of the world Often featured in….myth, fables -Viewpoints are shaped by story teller’s background and 4.Hyperbole – a type of figurative language that uses experiences extreme exaggeration 3.Theme – the central idea, message, or insight about Often featured in….tall tales, myths, epics life that a story conveys 5.Dialect – language spoken by people in a particular -universal themes – themes that are repeated across region or group many cultures and over many time periods – express Often featured in….tall tales, folk tales insights into life that many people understand For example: the struggle of good against evil Additional Academic Vocabulary -moral – a lesson about life that is stated directly, 1.Main Idea – what the text is mostly about usually at end of story 2.Supporting Details – additional information that 4.Purpose of Folk Literature – the reason it was written explains, defines, proves, illustrates, clarifies and For example: to explain or teach, to entertain describes more about a main idea. They can be facts, examples, and statements. Forms of Folk Literature 3.Textual Evidence – the details you get from your 1.Myths – tales that relate the action of gods, readings that support your answers and claims goddesses, and the heroes who interact with them 4.Allusion – an implied or indirect reference in literature For example: Greek mythology to a familiar person, place, or event -mythology – collection of myths 5.Analysis – using a close reading of texts to examine 2.Legends – traditional stories based on real-life the relationships/connections among ideas, details, events…as retold, fact often changes to fiction and/or examples For example: Robin Hood, King Arthur, Knights of the 6.Inference – a judgment based on reasoning rather round table than on a direct or explicit statement. An understanding 3.Tall tales – often focus on a central hero who based on “reading between the lines”. performs impossible feats 7. Text Dependent Analysis – information based on For example: Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and Johnny specific evidence within a reading passage and being Appleseed able to interpret the meaning 4.Folk Tales – may deal with real people or magical characters, and they reflect the values & beliefs of the culture For example: Little Mermaid, Chinese folk tales about respect, and Cinderella 5.Fables – brief stories or poems that often feature animal characters who act and speak like humans, and they usually end with a moral For example: Aesop’s Fables 6.Epics – long narrative poems important to the history of a nation or culture, and they tell of great hero going on a dangerous journey, or quest For example: Beowulf