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

Folktales are stories that grew out of the lives and imaginations of the people, or folk. They are a favourite type of folk literature among children. The most common kinds are animal tales, wonder tales, cumulative tales, pourquoi tales and noodlehead tales. Many contain supernatural elements, simple justice and a happy ending.

Behavioural objectives

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

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

What are folktales?

Folktales are stories that grew out of the lives and imaginations of the people, or folk. They have always been children’s favourite type of folk literature. Their popularity springs from their imaginative characters, their supernatural elements, their focus on action, their simple sense of justice, their happy endings, and the fundamental wisdom they contain.

Many people use the terms folktale and fairy tale interchangeably, 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?

Note that some folktales have characteristics of two or more folktale categories.

1. Animal tales

Animal tales are perhaps the oldest of all folktales. They are part myth, part fable, and part fairy tale. They play significant roles in early stories and legends. Talking animals appear in many European folktales. For example, “The Three Little Pigs” and “Little Red Riding Hood”.

2. Wonder tales

Wonder tales (also known as fairy tales) are the best-known of the traditional folktales. They are stories of supernatural wonders typically depicting the conflict between good and evil. Most conclude with the triumph of virtue and a happy marriage.

In fairy tales, the supernatural wonder comes from one of three sources:

• a magical person (a fairy godmother, a wicked witch);
• a magical object (a wondrous beanstalk, a talking mirror, a magic lamp);
• an enchantment (a miraculous sleep that lasts until love’s first kiss).

For example, “Cinderella”, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, “Sleeping Beauty” and “Jack and the Beanstalk”.

3. Cumulative tales

Cumulative tales are the ones in which successive additions are made to a repetitive plot line. They are generally very simple in plot and brief, for with each addition, the entire sequence is repeated. For example, “The Gingerbread Man” and “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”.

4. Pourquoi tales

Pourquoi tales (“Pourquoi” means “why” in French) seek to explain natural phenomena. They provide primitive explanations for the many “why” questions early humans asked. They are found throughout the world and are especially popular in African and Native American folklore.

There is a strong connection between pourquoi tales and myths. However, the setting in pourquoi tales is earthly, and deities play no role in them as they do in myths.

For example, “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” (1976). See the video at Prairie School Television.

5. Noodlehead tales

Noodlehead tales are light-hearted tales about silly people doing silly things. These tales are popular because of their pure nonsense and jocularity. Sometimes we also enjoy the triumph of the good-hearted simpleton over the craftier evil characters of the story. For example, “Hans in Luck” by the Grimm brothers and “The Three Wishes” by Joseph Jacobs.

Evaluation

1. What do you understand by the word “folktales”?
2. Briefly write the format of a formal, informal and semi-formal letter.
3. Mention and explain the types of folktales you know.

Weekend assignment

1. Study the folktales mentioned above, choose one, and write a story.
2. Write a formal letter to the supervisor of your school, suggesting that the school library be freshly equipped with lively and modern books.