This document defines and provides characteristics of various types of folk and fairy tale literature, including fables, folk tales, fairy tales, epics and sagas, proverbs, myths, and legends. It notes that folk literature is primarily oral and transmits cultural information. Key characteristics listed include talking animals in fables, young protagonists and fantasy elements in fairy tales, historical events and verse for epics and sagas, wisdom and metaphor for proverbs, religious themes and gods/goddesses for myths, and identifiable time/location for legends. Common traits across types include concentrated action, stock characters, patterned language, fantasy elements, and exploration of universal human truths.

1. FOLK & Fairy Tale
LITERATURE
From Cover to Cover Chapter 3

2. Folk Literature
• Folk literature is primarily oral rather than
written.
• Transmits culturally significant information.
• There are several types of folk literature.
– Cumulative ie. “The House That Jack Built”
– Pourquoi ie. “Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears”
– Beast Tales
– Fairy Tales
– Realistic

3. Fables
• Definition: A brief story intended to teach a lesson, which
utilizes animals.
• Characteristics:
1. Talking animals
2. Clear lesson
3. Personification

4. Folk Tales / Fairy Tales
• Definition: A fictional story intended for children, which includes
far-fetched elements.
• Characteristics:
1. Young protagonists
2. Specialized intro. words (i.e. “once upon a time”)
3. Folkloric figures (fairies, gnomes, etc.)
Fractured Fairy Tales such as
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf

5. Epics and Sagas
• Definition: Long stories written in verse concerning historical
events.
• Characteristics:
1. Concerns something considered
historical
2. Involves gods or goddesses
3. Written in verse

6. Proverbs
• Definition: A short, pithy saying intended to contain some
wisdom.
• Characteristics:
1. Typically no longer than a sentence
2. Typically utilizes a form of
metaphor (i.e. not literal)
3. Contains a lesson

7. Myths
• Definition: Stories with god or hero protagonists in a
proto-world setting to explain natural events
• Characteristics:
1. Religious
2. Discusses gods/goddesses
3. Presented as truth

8. Legends
• Definition: Stories based on historical events or figures
• Characteristics:
1. Set in identifiable location and time
2. Based on fact
3. May utilize folkloric figures

9. Common Characteristics
• Concentrated action
• Stock characters
• Patterned language
• Elements of Fantasy
• Simple Themes
• Dealt with universal human truths
This Photo by Unknown
Author is licensed under
CC BY-ND
This Photo by Unknown Author
is licensed under CC BY

10. A Little Tip 
• There is frequently a lot of overlap with folk literature.
• Differences between Fairy Tales and other Folk
Literature:
– Folk Tales record POOR people’s view of the world.
– Fairy Tales record WEALTHY people’s view of the world.

11. Why Teach Stories?
• Help readers understand truths about life using
made-up characters/setting/actions.
– Jesus used parables to help His disciples understand
spiritual truths
• Help readers understand truths about
themselves.
– Nathan the prophet helped David see how wicked his
sin was with a story!
• Entertain & amuse!
• Engage imagination and humor with increases
endorphins: it is good for your health to read
fairy tales 

12. Source
• https://www.mooreschools.com/site/handle
rs/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=5
3753&dataid=86773&FileName=Fairytales
-Fables-Myths-Legends-and-folk-tales.ppt