Literature: Introduction to Folktale – JSS1 English Lesson Note (First Term)

A folktale is a story that grew out of the lives and imaginations of the people, or folk, and was passed down by word of mouth.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain what a folktale is;
2. state why folktales are popular with children;
3. name the five most common kinds of folktales;
4. describe each kind of folktale;
5. give at least one example of each kind.

What is a folktale?

A folktale is a traditional story created by ordinary people and shared from one generation to the next.

• Folk: the ordinary people of a community.
• Folk literature: the stories, songs and sayings of a people, usually passed on by word of mouth.
• Folktale: one kind of folk literature, and a favourite among children.
• Nigerian setting: many Nigerian children first hear folktales told by elders in the evening.

Why are folktales popular with children?

Folktales are popular because they are exciting, easy to follow and full of lessons.

• Imaginative characters: kings, animals, witches and clever heroes keep the story lively.
• Supernatural elements: magic and wonders make the story surprising.
• Action: the story moves quickly from one event to the next.
• Simple justice: good is rewarded and wrong is punished.
• Happy endings: most stories end well.
• Wisdom: each story carries a lesson about life.

What are the features of a folktale?

The features of a folktale are the qualities found in most of these stories.

• Oral origin: the stories were told aloud before they were written down.
• Unknown author: the original teller is usually not known.
• Simple plot: the events are easy to follow.
• Supernatural elements: many tales contain magic or wonders.
• Simple justice: good characters win in the end.
• Happy ending: many tales close on a pleasant note.

What is the difference between a folktale and a fairy tale?

A folktale is any story that comes from the folk, while a fairy tale is one kind of folktale about supernatural wonders.

• Folktale: the wider name for the traditional stories of a people.
• Fairy tale: another name for a wonder tale, one of the kinds of folktale.
• Common mix-up: many people use the two terms for the same thing, though few of these tales contain fairies.

“Fairy tales are unreal but they are not untrue; they reflect essential developments and conditions of man’s existence” (cited in Lüthi, 1976, Once Upon a Time: On the Nature of Fairy Tales, p. 70).

What are the most common kinds of folktales?

There are five common kinds of folktales: animal tales, wonder tales, cumulative tales, pourquoi tales and noodlehead tales.

• Overlap: some folktales have the features of two or more kinds.

1. What are animal tales?

Animal tales are stories in which animals act and talk like people.

• Age: they are perhaps the oldest of all folktales.
• Mixture: they are part myth, part fable and part fairy tale.
• Role: they play significant roles in early stories and legends.
• Examples: “The Three Little Pigs” and “Little Red Riding Hood”, where talking animals appear in many European folktales.

2. What are wonder tales?

Wonder tales, also called fairy tales, are stories of supernatural wonders that show the conflict between good and evil.

• Fame: they are the best-known of the traditional folktales.
• Ending: most conclude with the triumph of virtue and a happy marriage.
• Examples: “Cinderella”, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, “Sleeping Beauty” and “Jack and the Beanstalk”.

The supernatural wonder in a fairy tale comes from one of three sources:

• A magical person: a fairy godmother or a wicked witch.
• A magical object: a wondrous beanstalk, a talking mirror or a magic lamp.
• An enchantment: a miraculous sleep that lasts until love’s first kiss.

3. What are cumulative tales?

Cumulative tales are stories in which successive additions are made to a repetitive plot line.

• Repetition: with each addition, the whole sequence is repeated.
• Length: they are generally simple in plot and brief.
• Examples: “The Gingerbread Man” and “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”.

4. What are pourquoi tales?

Pourquoi tales are stories that explain natural happenings, and “pourquoi” means “why” in French.

• Purpose: they give early explanations for the “why” questions that early humans asked.
• Spread: they are found throughout the world and are especially popular in African and Native American folklore.
• Examples: “Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky” (from Southern Nigeria), “Where Stories Come From” (from Zulu) and “Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears”.
• Video: see the video at Prairie School Television.

A myth is a traditional story in which gods or other deities take part. Pourquoi tales are strongly linked to myths, but they differ in the points below.

5. What are noodlehead tales?

Noodlehead tales are light-hearted stories about silly people doing silly things.

• Appeal: they are popular for their pure nonsense and jocularity.
• Triumph: sometimes the good-hearted simpleton wins over the craftier, evil characters.
• Examples: “Hans in Luck” by the Grimm brothers and “The Three Wishes” by Joseph Jacobs.

How do the five kinds of folktales compare?

The table below gives the main idea and examples of each kind of folktale.

Evaluation

1. What do you understand by the word “folktale”?
2. State four reasons why children enjoy folktales.
3. Name the five common kinds of folktales.
4. Mention and explain the kinds of folktales you know, with one example each.
5. State two differences between a pourquoi tale and a myth.

Assignment

1. Choose one of the folktales mentioned in this note and write the story in your own words. State which kind of folktale it is.