Monday, February 20, 2012

Folktales Around the Globe

Folktales are simply defined as a tale or legend originating among a people or folk. It forms a large part of the tradition of a culture. A folktale can be a mixture of legends, oral history, proverbs, fairy tales, superstitions, etc. They can provide a picture into a culture's morals and values. Cultures all across the world have their share of folktales.

North American (US) Folktale: The Baker's Dozen

European (England) Folktale: The Old Woman and Her Pig

African (Nigerian) Folktale: Baboon and the Tortoise

Asian (Chinese) Folktale: The Four Dragons

South American (Mayan) Folktale: The Rabbit and the Coyote

Australian Folktale: The Bunbundoolooeys

These folktales represent a common bond found among all of humanity - every culture, ethnicity, and peoples. Read each story aloud in your group. On the handout, note which culture the folktale came from, summarize the plot, and analyze the purpose/moral of the story. At the very end, note the similarities and differences among these folktales from across the globe. What do you think they say about the culture?

No comments:

Post a Comment