EXPLORING TRADITIONAL & CLASSICAL LITERATURE

Folktales, myths, legends, & fairy tales

SYNOPSIS

Students explain how authors use personification

and hyperbole to create meaning in literary texts.

Students also analyze the unique stylistic elements

of traditional and classical literature.

GENRES

Fairy tales are fictional stories in which magical things

happen. "Cinderella" is an example of a fairy tale.

Myths and legends are stories that often attempt to explain

why things are the way they are now. For example, a myth

might try to explain why the sky is blue through an interesting

story. A legend might explain why bears hibernate in the

winter.

Folktales are stories handed down from earlier times,

especially one popularly believed to be historical.

REVIEW

Personification: making it seem like a person

Hyperbole: exaggeration

Stylistic Elements:

T Y P E S O F S T Y L I S T I C E L E M E N T S I N T R A D I T I O N A L / C L A S S I C A L L I T E R AT U R E

Rule of three

Magic helper

Frequent use of rhyme and repetition

Reflects the culture in which the story originated

Good vs. evil- good usually wins

Magic doesn’t work in the end for evil person

Evil spells can be overcome by love or sacrifice

Rule of Three

The rule of three is a writing strategy that suggests that things that come in threes are naturally funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things. The reader is also more likely to process information if it is written in groups of threes. From slogans ("Go, fight, win!") to character groupings, many things are structured in

threes. There were the Three Musketeers, the Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the Three Blind Mice, and even the Three Stooges.

A series of three is often used to create a progression in which the tension is created, then built up, and finally released (such as in “The Three Little Pigs” or “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”).

In storytelling in general, authors often create triplets - or structures in three parts – which is even seen in the

parts of a story…beginning, middle, and end.

“Jack and the Beanstalk” showed Jack climbing the beanstalk three times. The wicked stepmother visited

Snow White in the forest three times before she finally caused her to fall to her death. In the “Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy is only able to return home to Kansas after

clicking her ruby slippers together three times, chanting, “There’s no place like home.”

In most folklore, there are three tasks which have to be performed to reach a certain goal.

Magic helper

Many fairy tales have a typical list of characters that often include the protagonist (or hero), a princess (or some other “damsel in distress”), a magic helper, and an antagonist (or villain).

The magic helper is a character – whether supernatural, human, or animal – who possesses an extraordinary kind of power that often assists the hero or heroine throughout his/her journey within the story.

Magic helpers, such as the “Fairy Godmother” in Cinderella, allow for things to occur within a story that would otherwise be impossible. The magic helper is the element that usually links

the genres of fairy tales & fantasy fiction.

Magic helpers often assist other characters with their problems, allowing the plot to progress and the conflict(s) to be resolved.

Think about it: Would Cinderella have ever been able to make it to

the ball on time if the Fairy Godmother’s wand hadn’t turned the pumpkin into a coach, her rags

into a dress, and the mice into horses?

Would Pinocchio have been able to turn into a “real boy” without the blue fairy’s help?

Would Aladdin have been able to end up with Jasmine if it hadn’t been for the genie?

Though the stylistic elements of “Rule of Three” and “Magic Helper” aren’t used in fiction as often as foreshadowing, flashback, symbolism, and theme, it’s important to recognize them

as a part of the collection of strategies that fictional writers use to make their stories interesting.

RHYME & REPETITION

Rhyme Repetition

Reflects the culture in which the story originated

Good vs. evil- good usually wins

Magic doesn’t work in the end for evil person

EVIL SPELLS CAN BE OVERCOME BY LOVE OR SACRIF ICE

A N A LY Z I N G S T Y L I S T I C E L E M E N T S I N T R A D I T I O N A L / C L A S S I C A L L I T E R AT U R E

1.Identify the stylistic elements

2.Identify the function of the element in the text

3. Explain how stylistic element enhances the

literature

STUDENT ASSIGNMENT

Students fold the construction paper into three

columns.

Students label the first column “Type” the second

column “Specific” and the third column “Effect”

Students select a traditional or classical story from

the collection.

Student read the story.

STUDENT ASSIGNMENT

Students record three types of stylistic elements

found in their story in the first column of their tri-

fold display.

Students record the specifics of the stylistic

elements in the second column.

Students record how the stylistic elements affect

the story in the third column.

STUDENT ASSIGNMENT

type

effect

stylistic elementS

PECIFIC

Example: “Brave”TYPE SPECIFIC EFFECT

Good vs. evil- good usually wins

Meridia wins/evil witch loses!

Why did the author have this happen? What does it “add” to the story”

Rule of three Siblings are identical triplets: Hamish, Hubert and Harris

Why did the author have this happen? What does it “add” to the story”

Evil spells can be overcome by love or sacrifice

It is only after Merida breaks down in tears and reconciling with her mother that Elinor is transformed back (from a bear to a human!) along with the triplets, and the family is reunited.

Why did the author have this happen? What does it “add” to the story”