ACTIVATING CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.

Hello again!

Today we're going to see different types of stories and their characteristics.

FOLKTALE.

- Story that began with oral storytelling passed down through the ages.

- Teaches a lesson. Folktales often explain something that happens in nature or convey a certain truth about life.

- The beginning of the story starts with "Once upon a time..." or a similar phrase.

- Magic events, characters, and objects are part of the story.

- One character is someone of royalty (king, queen, prince, princess, etc.)

- One character is wicked.

- One character is good.

- Goodness is rewarded in the story.

- The story ends with: "... they lived happily ever after".

Characteristics.

- Simple and straightforward.

- Includes magic or supernatural powers.

- Characters represent human qualities such as good, evil, wisdom, foolishness, laziness.

- Problems and conflicts are clear.

- Ending usually happy or satisfying.

- Good usually rewarded, evil punished.

Types of Folktales.

Trickster tales. A fictional story that attempts to explain "why the way something is". E.g: why the leopard has it's spots.

- One character (the protagonist or trickster) is clever and devious.

- Causes problems for another.

- Is usually unpunished.

- Different cultures have specific tricksters.

Fables. A fictional story that attempts to teach a lesson. E.g: the lion and the mouse.

- Short stories.

- Teach a lesson or moral.

- Animal characters with human characteristics.

- Stress themes such as: the value of cooperation, looking at problems from different viewpoints, rewards if being satisfied.

- Some have several layers of meaning (Indian tales).

- Morals are not stated directly.

- Listener must find their own moral in the tale.

Fairy tales. Were not originally for children. Real fairy tales are very dark and scary and violent therefore, children adore them! A fairy tale usually, but not always, contains magic, or a bewitched person, or a magic tree or disguised witch.

- Include good and bad characters.

- A hero or heroine.

- Magic or fantasy.

- Includes predictable beginnings and endings "Once upon a time", "Happily ever after".

- Problem which is usually overcome through kindness, courage, intelligence.

Tall tale. Is a story about a larger-than-life character, either fictional or based on a real person who has exaggerated adventures and performs exaggerated feats of daring, strength, courage, and/or intelligence.

Now you just have to choose the one that adapts better to the content you want to work or the lesson you want them to learn.

Have fun teaching, 

Laura.