What is a folk tale?
A folk tale is a story passed on, and told by people
that is a simple story which contains characters, motifs, structure, plot,
action, and a reoccurring symbol. Folk tales are usually passed down to generations
orally. It could be in a performance space, or just by telling the story with
ones words. This leaves room for people to edit the story in any way they wish.
No one person owns any folk tale, the public owns this story as a whole and can
retell it in any way possible.
According to Vladimir Propp, a famous folklorist who
analyzed the plot components of different folk tales to identify the simplest
elements that create the story, a folktale has thirty one distinct functions. These
functions include, absent, interdiction, violation, reconnaissance, delivery,
trickery, complicity, villains, meditation, beginning counteraction, departure,
function of donor, hero, provision, guidance, struggle, marking, victory, liquidation,
return, chase, rescue, arrival, claims, difficult task, solution, recognition,
exposure, transfiguration, punishment, and finally wedding. All of these
components work together to create many folk tales today.
A folk tale is unique from a fairy tale, and is very
important to many cultures all over the world. In simplest terms, a folk tale
is a story passed down generationally, or in pop culture by word of mouth. Many
folk tales resonate with people for their entire lives because of the lessons,
and characteristics that make up these beautiful stories. Some of the most
famous folk tales are, The Pied Piper, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Frog King,
and Goldilocks and the Three Bears, just to name a few. There are endless
amounts of folk tales being told every day, and endless amounts of versions of
folk tales in the world. This is a culturally important way of education for children
that stays with them throughout adulthood.
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