Folktales

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Folktales
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Motifs of Folktales

• The youngest and smallest siblings is successful
  after others in the family fail.
• Wishes are granted
• Magic objects (rings, beans, or tablecloths) are
  standard props
• Animals talk
• Monsters often appear
• Use of trickery
• The number three is significant (however, in
  Native American folktales, four is the magic
  number)
• Use of a variety of tools
• A poor person becomes rich.

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General Characteristics

• The stories begin quickly
• Characters are uncomplicated (flat, not round or
  one-sided, not multi-sided)
• Plots move swiftly along well-trod paths.
• All questions are answered before the story ends,
  but there is plenty of room for flexibility
  within the plot, from beginning to happy ending.

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Distinguished by an overarching motif

• Tales of talking animals
• Tales that tell why (Pourquoi tales)
• Tales of magic (fairy tales)
• Cumulative tales
• Tales of exaggeration (silly fold and legendary
  figures)