Storytelling

Story Genres

FOLKTALE

A folktale is a story that has been handed down through the ages from one generation to another. They were usually shared by word-of-mouth, although today we can find many written collections. Because these stories belong more to a cultural group than an individual, we can learn a lot about the culture that they come from. The themes are universal and timeless. Folktales generally lack descriptive passages & rely more on plot.

LEGEND

A legend is born out of real people, places or events that have occurred. However, because it is retold so many times, the stories are often exaggerated. Examples include tales about Robin Hood, Johnny Appleseed, John Henry, Pocahontas & Davy Crockett.

FAIRYTALE

A fairytale is usually a make-believe story; it is created by an author rather than based on a historical fact. The story is often set in a never-never land where all kinds of supernatural events take place. It is usually longer & more descriptive than a folktale.

MYTH

Myths are stories that try to explain a natural occurrence or a belief in a certain culture. For example, many cultures have myths about how the universe was created or how people came to live on the earth.

FABLE

Fables usually use animals as their main characters. Usually these animals are misbehaving. This type of story always teaches a moral. Sometimes the moral is stated at the end as in Aesop's Fables.

TALL TALE

Tall tales are usually exaggerations of a true event or character that lived. Characters or plots are usually bigger than life. Sometimes we know they cannot possibly be true, but we enjoy hearing them as entertainment. In America, we have tall tales about Paul Bunyan, Mike Fink, Pecos Bill & many more.

LITERARY STORY

A literary story is written by a particular author. These stories can be difficult to tell because they rely so much on the beauty & power of the original language used by the author. The storyteller must re-tell the story just as it was written. Examples include: Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling & Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg.

Revised from Martha Hamilton & Mitch Weiss-Beauty & the Beast Storytellers. Children Tell Stories: A Teaching Guide. Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc., Katonah, New York.