Forms of Fiction

Fiction: prose writing that tells about imaginary characters or events.

Tree Map for Fiction

F o lkta lesO ld es t F o rm

S h or t S to r iesR e la tive ly sho r t w orks

N o ve lsL o ng W o rks

F ictio nA hu ge ca teg ory o f li te ra tu re

Think of as many different examples as you can of each type, and list these underneath!!

What Are Folktales? Folktales are

stories with no known author, originally passed on from one generation to another by word of mouth.

Folk tales can include fables, fairy tales, tall tales, trickster tales, and legends.

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“The Fox and the Grapes”

Characters in FolktalesThe main characters in folktales are often

ordinary common folk, such as Jack from “Jack and the Beanstalk”

animals that talk and act like ordinary people, such as the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

tricksters who rely on cleverness to outwit or trick more powerful opponents, such as Briar Rabbit

Themes in Folktales Folktales often

show good triumphing over evil

teach simple truths about ourselves

give explanations for how something came to be

Why were these folktales, fables, myths, and legends told?These stories began as an

attempt to explain and understand the natural and spiritual world, teach people cultural lessons, and entertain the people of that culture.

Reading a myth, legend, and folktale is much like reading a newspaper article. You have certain questions you need to ask yourself while reading: Who was important? What did they do? Why did it matter? Where and when did the events

happen? What may happen next?

How to read a folktale, myth and legend…

In order to answer those questions, we may need a refresher on some Literary Elements…

What is a theme? A central message, concern, or purpose in a story.

What is an example of a theme? Good prospers over evil.

What is the plot of a story? What are the parts? The sequence of events in a story. The parts of the plot are

the setting, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

SummaryA summary is a retelling in your own words the main events

or ideas of what you read.

What NOT to do with a summary…

write down everything write down next to

nothing give me incomplete

sentences write way too much/don't

write enough copy word for word

A good summary should: pull out main ideas Focus on key

events/details Use key words and

phrases Be short, and to-the-point Be written in your own

words

Plot Plot is the series of

events in a story: Exposition (setting) Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

Common themes in Folktales Folktales often

show good winning over evil

teach simple morals about life

give explanations for how things came to be

Traveling Tales Similar folk tales appear in different cultures. As

tales traveled, local storytellers changed the stories to suit their listeners. Often character names and details changed, but the

basic story remained the same, as with “Cinderella.”

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“Cinderella”(France)

“Yeh-Shen”(China)

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters (Zimbabwe)

The Rough-Face Girl (Canada) Algonquin Indian

“The Magic Orange Tree” (Haiti)

Type of Story Definition CharacteristicsMyths

Legends

FolktalesFairytales

.

Fables

Anonymous stories about gods and goddesses

Explain things in nature, was passed down orally, and entertains

Stories about the past that are based on real-life, historical events

Based on truth, feature larger-than-life people, use exaggeration

Short stories whose main purpose is to teach a moral or lesson.

Short, teaches a moral or lesson, usually animals are the main characters

Stories about ordinary people

Reveal the values and traditions of its culture

Folk Tales vs. MythsFolktales Myths

have main characters that are ordinary people

were created to entertain, teach, and explain

traveled to different cultures

have main characters that are supernatural gods

were linked to traditions and religious beliefs

tended to stay in culture of origin

What Have You Learned?

_____________— Folk tales are always written down.

_____________— Main characters in folk tales are gods with supernatural powers.

_____________— Similar folk tales are found in different cultures.

False

False

True