Transcript Genres of Fantasy from the Oral Tradition

GENRES OF FANTASY FROM
THE ORAL TRADITION
The stories we tell reflect who we are.
Why Oral Tradition?
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Before the printing press
 1476
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for England
Few could read; none had TV
People told stories for many purposes
 Entertain
 Retain
History
 Teach Lessons
Fantasy Genres from the Oral
Tradition
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Fable
Folk Tale
Myth
Legend
Epic
Fable
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Short story intended for youth ages 3-8
Main character is usually a talking animal
Story ends by explaining the moral
Example: Aesop’s Fables
 Tortoise
and the Hare
 Ant and the Grasshopper
Folk Tale
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Short story intended for youth ages 7-14
Story told to teach a lesson or moral, but it is implied
and not explained
Main character is human but encounters talking animals
Protagonist overcomes large obstacles to learn a lesson
Includes something magical to signal the reader that it is
not real
Often called fairy tales in England and the U.S.
Myth
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Story that presents supernatural episodes as a means
of interpreting natural events
Intended for both adults and youth
Often the stories of a dead religion
Focus on Gods, nature, and supernatural
Four common categories
Creation
 Flood or explanation of nature
 End of the world
 afterlife
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Legend
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Collection of stories handed down over time by oral
tradition centering around a single heroic figure
Some historical truth
Hero accomplishes deeds of great valor
Focuses more on hero than on Gods or explanation
of nature
Examples
 Arthur,
Robin Hood, Zorro, Paul Bunyon
Epic
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Long narrative poem in elevated style
Character of high position in adventures
The episodes are important to the history of the
nation or race
They come in two forms
There are 12 epic characteristics
Types of epics
Folk Epic
Art Epic
Created by combining
Story invented and written
several stories or
by one person, not
legends into a single
recorded by someone
piece after years or oral who had already heard
tradition
the legends
Author is often unknown More sophisticated
Examples
Examples
Illiad, Odyssey, Beowolf Aeneid, Divine Comedy
Epic Characteristics
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Hero of imposing stature, of nation or international
importance, and of great historical or legendary
significance
Vast Setting, covering great nations, the world, or
the universe
The action consists of deeds of great valor requiring
superhuman strength or courage
Supernatural forces (such as gods, angels, or
demons) interest themselves in the action
Epic Characteristics
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Style of sustained elevated poetry is used
 Rhyme
scheme is sometimes internal or alliteration is
used instead of rhyme
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Poet retains a measure of objectivity
 Or
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pretends to while sharing cultural propaganda
Poet begins by introducing the theme
 With
Greek epics this involves invoking a muse
Epic Characteristics
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Story begins “in medias res”
 Narration
begins in the middle of the story, uses
flashbacks to catch the reader up, and continues on
with the plotline.
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Poet lists catalogues of warriors, ships, armies (and
often names weapons
Main characters give extended formal speeches
Epic Characteristics
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Poet uses epic similes
 Elaborated
comparisons more ornate and involved (and
longer) than a simple simile
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Hero is often saved by the loyalty of a friend or
servant
Modern-Day Near Epics
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These are NOT epics because they are not poems,
but, they have many of the characteristics
The Lord of the Rings
Harry Potter
Star Wars
Wheel of Time
Dune
Book Search
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Look through the contents page or our literature
book
Make a list of examples of each of the fantasy
genres of oral tradition
Four of the five are clearly labeled
 One
piece of the Arthurian legend is in the book, but
not listed as a legend
Identify the Genre
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The Three Little Pigs
Hercules
Pandora’s Box
Little Red Riding Hood
Odyssey