Fables, Tall Tales, Fairy
Tales, Myths, and Legends
Fables
Definition: A brief story that sets forth some pointed statement of
truth
Origin: Found in almost every country
Handed down from generation to generation as oral literature
Content: Usually contains incidents that relate to the unusual,
sometimes supernatural
Contains a moral
Characters: often animals or plants given human qualities, but
people and supernatural figures may appear
Structure: lacks development of characters
Examples: Aesops fables, The Tortoise and the Hare
Tall Tale
Definition: story with unbelievable elements, related as if it were
true and factual
Origin: American folk literature
Oral tradition and contests
Content: Based on hard-working people
Bragging and exaggeration HYPERBOLE
Humorous or witty
Seemingly impossible feats
Characters: people, fictional characters
Told to make the narrator seems as if he/she was part of the story
Examples: Paul Bunyan, Davy Crockett, Johnny Appleseed
Fairy Tales and Folk Tales
Definition: fictional story that may feature folkloric characters
and enchantments
Origin: almost all cultures
Oral tradition and then written and recorded
Content: Associated with children
Characters: fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, gnomes,
talking animals, princes, princesses, witches, wicked
stepmothers, fairy godmothers, etc.
Structure: Contains elements of plot
Examples: Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc.
Myths
Definition: a sacred narrative explaining how the world
and humankind came to be in their present form
Origin: Almost all cultures
Passed through oral tradition
Content: Closely linked to religion and the explaining of
why something is; establishes models for behavior
Characters: Gods or supernatural heroes
Structure: Elements of plot, personification
Examples: Greek mythology, Roman mythology
Legends
Definition: a narrative of human actions that are
perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within
human history and to possess certain qualities that give
the tale truth
Origin: found in almost all cultures
Passed on through oral tradition
Content: occurrence of miracles
Characters: real people going through imaginary events
Structure: Includes element of plot
Examples: Beowulf, Robin Hood
