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Introduction to stories passed down through generations in different cultures.
Have you ever wondered why the same story is told in different ways all over the world? Imagine a story that traveled thousands of miles just to reach your ears!
A folktale is a story that has been passed down from person to person for a very long time. Long ago, people did not have books or television. Instead, they used oral tradition. This means they told stories out loud to their children and grandchildren. Because these stories were told by many people, they sometimes changed a little bit, but the most important parts stayed the same. Folktales help us understand how people lived and what they believed in long ago.
Quick Check
How were folktales shared before people had books?
Answer
They were told out loud from person to person (oral tradition).
Most folktales have a theme. A theme is the 'big idea' or the lesson the story teaches us. We often call this the moral. Even if stories come from different countries, they often share the same themes. For example, a story from Africa and a story from North America might both teach us that being kind is better than being greedy. Common themes include bravery, honesty, and helping others.
In the story of 'The Tortoise and the Hare': 1. The Hare is very fast but stops to sleep. 2. The Tortoise is slow but never stops. 3. The Tortoise wins the race.
Theme: Slow and steady wins the race!
Quick Check
What is the 'big idea' or lesson of a story called?
Answer
The theme or the moral.
A folktale reflects the culture it comes from. Culture is the way a group of people lives, including their food, clothes, and environment. If a folktale comes from a cold place like Norway, the characters might deal with snow and ice. If it comes from a hot place like Mexico, it might feature desert animals like coyotes. By looking at the setting and the details, we can learn about the people who first told the story.
Many cultures have a 'Cinderella' story, but the details change to fit the culture: 1. In the European version, she wears a glass slipper. 2. In the Chinese version (Yeh-Shen), she is helped by a magical fish. 3. In the Egyptian version (Rhodopis), she has rose-red slippers and is found by a Pharaoh.
Quick Check
If a story mentions a character eating 'sticky rice,' what does that tell us?
Answer
It shows us a detail about the culture the story comes from.
Folktales often use repetition. This means words or events happen over and over. Have you noticed how often the number appears? There are often wishes, brothers, or tries to solve a problem. These patterns make the story easy to remember and fun to hear. When you hear a phrase like 'I'll huff and I'll puff,' you know exactly what is coming next!
In 'The Three Little Pigs,' we see a mathematical pattern of : 1. Pig builds a house of straw. 2. Pig builds a house of sticks. 3. Pig builds a house of bricks.
The story repeats the wolf's chant times, making the ending more exciting when the wolf finally fails at the house.
What is a story passed down through generations called?
Which number is a very common pattern in folktales?
Folktales from different countries can have the same theme.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to remember the three things that make a story a folktale: it is old, it has a lesson, and it has patterns.
Practice Activity
Read a new story today and see if you can find the number or a repeating phrase!