Forms of Traditional Literature

Welcome to the Internet School Library Media Center forms of traditional literature page. You will find folktales, tall tales, fables, proverbs, myths, and epics. This page is part of the Traditional Literature page. The ISLMC is a preview site for teachers, librarians, parents and students. You can search this site, use an index or site map. Revised 6/1/02.

[Folktales] [Tall Tales] [Fables] [Proverbs] [Mythology / Legends] [Epic] [Mother Goose (Nursery Rhymes)]

Folktales

Sometimes called "Cottage tales." Stories of the common folk.

Folktales : What are they?
Folklore Parodies

Bibliography from U. of Iowa
Folk & Fairy Tales from Around the World. Tales of Wonder
Richard Darsie's collection; Africa, Central Asia, Central
Europe, China, Englsand, India, Ireland, Japan, Middle East,
Native America, Russia, Scandinavia, Scotland, Siberia
Uncle Remus: His Songs Songs and Sayings
By Joel Chandler Harris; from Project Gutenberg;
Related page: Joel Chandler Harris Teacher Resource File
New Fairytales Online by Rosemary Lake
Read stories online
Cinderella, by the Grimm Brothers
German version of the tale; from the Online-Library
Andrew Lang. Fairy Tales
Lang's English folktales collections, as The Blue Fairy Tale Book
Tales from Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains
Collection of modern, adult stories from people's pasts;
From Mountain Laurel Page.
EuroTales
Eight European schools share their stories in their own language;
stories are given in two languages; you can add your own

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Tall Tales

Uniquely American form; usually humorous stories which feature exaggeration.

Tall Tales

What are they? Includes Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, Pecos Bill,
John Henry, Tony Beaver; from Hortonville Area School District
Characters from "Tall Tales & Heroes"
Brief introduction; origins of Calamity Jane, Captain Stormalong,
Davy Crockett, John Henry, Johnny Appleseed, Molly Pitcher,
Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Slue-Foot Sue; from Perry Elementary School
Regional Tall Tale America. Bibliography
From Joseph Lee School, Boston
Ethnicity and Folk Heroes
Some discussion on origins of Mike Fink, Johnny Appleseed, and
Joe Magarac; from Rankin Intermediate School
Original Tall Tales, 1998
Written by Fairland's fifth graders; based on books by
Adrien Stoutenburg and Steven Kellogg; see also 1997 Tall Tales
Old Stormalong
Story and pictures from Folk Tales from around the World
Joe Magarac
Steel worker of gigantic proportions
John Henry - The Steel Driving Man
The man and the tale; includes music; from ibiblio
West Virginia Railroad Images - Big Bend Tunnel
Famous from the John Henry tale; at Talcott, WV;
from West Virginia Lighning
Polly Ann and John Henry
Sample Reader's Theater script from storycart.com
John Chapman
Johnny Appleseed timeline, Internet resources, bibliography;
from Heroes of Ohio
The Johnny Appleseed Homepage
Biographical sketch, his contributions, newspaper articles;
from Cornell
Johnny Appleseed
For kids; from The Processed Apples Institute
Johnny Appleseed Picture Find
Picture to color; from National Institute of Environmental Health
Johnny Appleseed Hunt
An Internet treasure hunt by Mrs. Vaudo of Seventh Street Elementary
Johnny Appleseed Puzzle
From Marshall Elementary School
Johnny Appleseed
Second graders from Highland Park Elementary write about and
draw Johnny Appleseed
Mike Fink
Story from Folk Tales from around the World
Slue-Foot Sue and Pecos Bill
Story from Folk Tales from around the World
Pecos Bill and Slue-Foot Sue
Texas folktales; Story from American Folklore. State Folktales
Paul Bunyan Trail Tall Tale
Illustrated story from Paul Bunyan Trail
Paul Bunyan
Introduces the characters in the Paul Bunyan stories
Tall Tale General Assignment
Bibliography & activities. 4th grade.

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Fables

Short stories which take abstract concepts such as good or bad, wise or foolish, and attempt to make them concrete. Frequently feature animals. Ex. Aesop's fables, fables of LaFontaine, Jatakas (Ancient Indian fables).

Aesop Online

Full text of over 300 Aesop fables; gives morals; lesson plans
Fairy Tales and Fables
Gopher site. Online fairy tales and many fables.
GIS
Fables of La Fontaine in French language; biography.
Fables of Jean De La Fontaine in English and French
From Aesop's Fables
Beasts and Citizens. Forty Fables of La Fontaine
Includes excerpts from the book
Jataka Tales, retold by Noor Inayat Khan
Introduction to these Buddhist tales, plus stories, The Quarrelsome
Quails, The Talkative Tortoise, Fearing the Wind. Site has "pop-ups"

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Proverbs

The stated maxim or moral of a fable.

Proverbs from Jean de la Fontaine's Fables

Use the author index to locate proverbs
Commonly-Used Proverbs
Student can complete the proverbs. From Interesting Things for ESL Students
African Proverbs
From the Wolof; Ashanti; Yoruba & Efik peoples; site has "pop-ups"
Proverbs: More Than Words Say
Includes proverbs from different regions of the world; lesson ideas;
from Peace Corps World Wise Schools
Insect Proverbs
By Donald W. Hall, University of Florida
Weather Lore and Proverbs
By David Phillips, Environment Canada
International Proverbs
Students from different countries explain a proverb; from Rice University
Kids' Proverbs
Young people complete phrases from proverbs; from Berkeley Parents Jokes & Quotes

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Myths & Legends

Complex stories that are rooted in ancient religions and traditions. Myths may attempt to explain:
a. cosmic phenomena, ex. how world was created.
b. natural history, ex. why rain falls.
c. origins of human civilization, ex. heroes such as Prometheus
d. origins of social or religious customs

Perseus Digital Library

Greek & Latin classics, archaeology primary & secondary sources
Virgil
Biography; text of Aeneid and study guide; from Bibliomania
Mythology in Western Art
Reproductions of art from Greek mythology; myths.
The Mythology of Star Wars
Discussion of the "new" mythology.
Religion, Mythology and Folklore
Many links from many cultures.
Legends
Robin Hood, King Arthur, Beowulf, other legends
Tanglewood Tales, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1853
The Minotaur, The Pygmies, The Dragon's Teeth, Circe's Palace,
The Pomegranate Seeds, The Golden Fleece; from Eldritch Press
A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys, 1852
Greek myths, Gorgon's Head, The Golden Touch, The Three Golden Apples,
and other tales; from Eldritch Press
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
Legendary character; by Howard Pyle; from Project Gutenberg

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Epics

Narrative poems of human heroes who embody the ideals of a culture. In some classification systems, this is a sub-category of myth.
Ex., King Arthur, the Iliad, Odyssey, Sigurd (Norse), Robin Hood, Gilgamesh (Babylonian, oldest known epic), Ramayana (Indian epic).

Camelot Project

Arthurian texts, images, bibliographies and basic information.
Arthurian Resources
Historicity of Arthur; the medieval legend and the nature of Arthur, notes and
queries, links, bookstore
Arthurian Legend Home Page
Large collection of bibliographies, online articles, etexts,
periodicals, societies; advanced level; from VMI
The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga)
Medieval & classical library; Sigurd.
The Saga of Erik the Red
Story of Erik the Red who visited Iceland;
from North: Landscape of the Imagination. Pre-contact: Before 1500.
The Iliad
E-text. Trans. by Samuel Butler.
The Odyssey
E-text. Trans. by Samuel Butler.
The Ramayana
Full text and synopsis of this Indian epic; also include commentary;
from Ramayana Institute, Syracuse University
The Song of Roland
Text of the French epic; from The Online Medieval & Classical Library

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Mother Goose Nursery Rhmes

Nursery Rhymes

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