Folktales

Folktales...here we come!

Today, we are building our background knowledge about folktales. Please click on a type of folktale to read an example of this type of folktale. Happy folktale reading!

Fairy Tales This type of folktale is usually set in a vague time, "a long time ago". They have make-believe people who have strange tasks or challenges to meet, and who are helped by magical, mysterious beings. Your group will be reading, "The Frog Prince". Please click on "Watch Video" to start listening to the fairy tale.

Legends This type of folktale is usually set in a recognizable place and time. The main character is a human hero who performs super-human deeds. They are usually based on a real, historical figure who possesses powers that are exaggerated each time it is retold. Your group will be reading, __The Legend of the Bluebonnet__ by Tomie dePaola. This is a You Tube video.

Fables This type of folktale is a very short tale and usually contains a moral. Some have human characters and some have animal characters that act like humans. Your group will be reading two fables because fables are short tales. The two titles are, "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" and "The Lion and the Mosquito". Click on these titles to access these fables.

Pourquoi Tales "Pourquoi" means "why" in French. This type of folktale tells why or how something in nature came to be that way. The characters are usually animals. Your group will be reading, "How the Tiger Got Its Stripes". This is a You Tube video.

Trickster Tales This type of folktale is usually about animals who trick other animals. The trickster usually wins due to his cleverness and some kind of character flaw of his victim. Your group will be reading, "The Trickster Tricked". This trickster tale is not read to you online, you will have to read it as a group aloud.