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Storytelling

The document discusses the importance and prevalence of storytelling. It notes that the author's family frequently shares stories during conversations, with one person's story prompting another similar story from someone else. Stories help relay points and lessons more effectively than simple facts alone. They make the information more relatable, help form personal connections between storyteller and audience, and can convey emotions. Overall, stories are a fundamental part of human communication and how we understand both history and each other.

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Jonathan Fletcher
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38 views

Storytelling

The document discusses the importance and prevalence of storytelling. It notes that the author's family frequently shares stories during conversations, with one person's story prompting another similar story from someone else. Stories help relay points and lessons more effectively than simple facts alone. They make the information more relatable, help form personal connections between storyteller and audience, and can convey emotions. Overall, stories are a fundamental part of human communication and how we understand both history and each other.

Uploaded by

Jonathan Fletcher
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Jonathan Fletcher Fletcher 1

Professor Jan Rieman

English 1103

October 12, 2010

Story Telling

I have noticed that story telling is a big part of everyday conversation. My

family in particular uses stories in nearly every conversation. Every time one person

tells a story, someone else thinks of something that happened to him or her, and

they tell a similar story. Sometimes the two stories make even be totally unrelated.

It seems that as humans, we have a “story for everything”, something that

goes with every occasion. I myself enjoy stories. As with Novogratz’s The Blue

Sweater, stories are an important part of relaying a point. Without her stories,

Novogratz’s book would be far less interesting.

Part of this appeal comes from the “realistic” feel someone gets when hearing

or reading a story. They feel that the story could possibly happen to them, and that

they should pay attention to the story so they can know how someone else reacted

in a certain situation. Also, Stories connect the author with the audience. When

people feel a personal connection, they are more likely to remember what was said,

and, in turn, understand the lesson behind the story a little better. Stories can relay

emotions as well, something that simply stating a fact could not do. When you hear a

story about something someone has done, quite often we also hear how he or she

felt about the subject.


Fletcher 2

When I think of story telling, I cannot help but think of American Indians and

their traditions of passing down oral histories. Story telling can be important in this

way, because all we know of history is based on stories (hence the word “story”

actually being contained in the word “history”). Think about what it would be like

to learn about the discovery of America, without some sort of story being told. Even

the simplest statement of historical fact (i.e. Columbus discovered America in 1492)

tells a story in some way. Therefore, one might say that stories make us who we are.

In everything we do we use stories. In writing, in conversation, in speeches,

in Facebook statuses. Without them we would not be able to properly communicate.

We would be unable to learn from the past, and possibly even learn anything at all.

Stories provide entertainment and education, strengthen family bonds, and can even

destroy the lives of some people. However they may be used, our society could not

function without stories.

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