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What is folktale?​

Folktale is a story that is passing down from one generation to other generations by oral telling. Normally, they share the same stories and the stories are quite similar between cultures. This is because the old people/our ancestors have many experiences and they created these stories to give education and advises to their children indirectly. Back then, there is a person called storyteller whom responsible to spread the folktale to another places. He/she have such a good memory because they will tell the same stories to the others without referring to any notes. However, there are some stories that have been synchronize by the peoples due to their places. That is why some of the folktales do not have the same ending. But still, the message given by the story is still  same which is to give lesson. The folktales normally focus on places, talking animal, myths creature or royalty. The beginning of the story usually starts with “Once upon a time …” or any other similar phrase. Back then, the storytellers will tell the folktales to the children in their free time or when they are preparing to sleep (bedtime stories). Now, although there are no more storytellers, but the folktales are still spreading all around the places by the story books that consist of these tales. So, the tradition is still live among the new generation.



Basically, magic events, characters and objects are part of the folktales. The characters usually consist of good person, wicked person or someone from royalty that disguise himself as a normal people. In the folktale, the good character is a kind person and will get reward while the wicked person will received punishment or any negative effects at the end. Each of the character is not well developed and limited. The places as well as the author of the stories also not clearly described as the focus of the tale is to give lesson and moral values to people. The ending of the folktale is almost the same which is “… they lived happily ever after.”

Reference:

 

(n.d) What is Folklore?. Retrieved July 11, 2012 from

         http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/reading/what_is_a_folk_tale.htm

 

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