Storytelling: Definition & Purpose

[What Is Storytelling?] [Why Tell Stories?]

Librarian-storytellers have usually relied upon published sources for material for storytelling. Ellin Greene defined storytelling as:

"...an art...recreating literature-taking the

printed words in a book and giving them life. (World Book Encyclopedia, 1976)"

Folklorists find this definition unacceptable, however, since they are studying storytellers who have learned their stories orally. Anne Pellowski attempted to draft a definition acceptable to both the folklorist and the librarian-storyteller. She defines storytelling as:

"the art or craft of narration of stories in verse/

and or prose, as performed or led by one person before

a live audience; the stories narrated may be spoken,

chanted, or sung, with or without musical, pictorial,

and/or other accompaniment and may be learned from

oral, printed, or mechanically recorded sources; one

of its purposes may be that of entertainment. (World of

Storytelling, p.15)"

This broad interpretation generally meets our needs. It should be noted, however, that some of our great storytellers, both past and present, not only told stories, but also collected them. Ruth Sawyer, great librarian-storyteller, collected and told stories. She shares her experiences in collecting stories in her book, My Spain; A Storyteller's Years of Collecting (Viking Press, 1967). Contemporary storytellers, such as Richard Chase [Blue Ridge Mountains] and Diane Wolkstein [Haiti], also combine collecting original stories with their storytelling activities. Stories come from the spoken arts; from real experiences; from watching, listening, reading and cataloging experiences for future use.

[Back to Top]

Why Tell Stories?

Why go to all the time and effort to prepare stories for telling? The following are some purposes garnered from various sources. The aims of storytelling can be:

(1)Sharing and creating a common experience in storytelling aids in the development of a child's ability to interpret events beyond his immediate experience (Baker, p. 17). The child's world view is expanded through story experiences in a non-threatening and loving atmosphere. Storytelling is an exceptionally personal experience.

(2.) Introduce the child to oral language patterns. The child needs wide experience with spoken language, if the child is to achieve success in reading (Baker, p. 17).

(3.) Develop a child's listening skills. (Baker, p. 17)

(4.) Develop a positive attitude on the part of the child for books and reading. Storytelling is an excellent means of introducing the children to the wonderful world of books. Be sure to have a supply of books on hand so that children can read books similar to stories told. (Baker, p. 18)

(5.) Contribute to the social and cognitive development through shared experiences...to feel joy for another's happiness or sadness at their misfortunes. (Baker, p. 18)

(6.) Contribute to the child's mental health. Help the child cope with his own conscious self by giving the child structure for his own daydreams and fantasies (Bettelheim, p. 7)

(7.) Aid in development of an ethical value system. (Scott, p. 23)

(8.) Introduce classic tales which all well-informed people should know.

(9.) Aid in vocabulary development.

(10.) Entertain and amuse the child.

(11.) Enrich the various areas of the curriculum, as English, history or science.

(12.) Help the child appreciate his own cultural heritage, as well as the heritage of others.

[Back to Top]

Return to Handbook for Storytellers