Once Upon a
Time…Traditional Literature
Characteristics and Markers of
Quality
LISTEN!
Quiet your faces; be crossed every thumb;
Fix on me deep your eyes…
And out of my mind a story shall come—
Old, and lovely, and wise.
--Walter de la Mare
TRADITIONAL LITERATURE…
Is a body of ancient stories & poems preserved &
passed down by storytellers
Is attributed to entire groups of people or
cultures
– No identifiable author
Includes many types of stories
– Most are fantasy, but some are realistic
Has common characteristics of the literary
elements (plot, characters, setting, writing style,
themes..)
Functioned to pass cultural values on through
generations
Plot
In traditional tales, story…
– Is shorter than in other genres
– Quickly introduces conflict
– Often has recurring actions
– Has a quick resolution & ending
Storyteller used this element to hold
attention of audience
Characterization
Less developed than in any other genre
Uni-dimensional
– Good characters: completely good
– Bad characters: completely evil
Consider: What actions are rewarded? What
actions are punished?
– This aspect of characterization can point to theme
– Themes reflect values of culture in which story
originated
Setting (Time & Place)
Vague (In the beginning…) (Long ago in a land far
away…)
– May be “formulaic” (Once upon…)
– Time: The far distant past
– Place: Often symbolic; careful description not
needed
As you read, consider
– In picture storybooks, how is setting portrayed in
illustrations? Who makes that decision?
– Is there anything in the setting that is symbolic?
• Does it reflect the tension in the plot?
• Does it symbolize the theme?
Theme
What is “theme”?
A universal truth or lesson to be learned
– Reflects values of culture in time of story’s origin
– Often involves moral issues
Consider
– What character qualities and behaviors are
rewarded…punished?
– How do plot, characterization, and setting
contribute to the theme?
Style of Language
Remember: Stories all began as oral tales
– Memory of storyteller is limited
– Capacity of audience to remember is limited
Simple--Only necessary description
Realistic conversation
Often enriched with repeating refrains
Some use dialect of time/place
Motifs—recurring features such as the number 3
CHOOSING/EVALUATING
TRADITIONAL LITERATURE
Does it preserve the storytelling style ?
Does it preserve the flavor of the culture or
country of its origin?
– Use of colloquialisms, unusual speech patterns, proper
names common to the culture, a few foreign terms
Do illustrations (if present) fit well with the
tone of the text and portray the essence of
the culture of origin? Are they well done?
Does the writing exemplify a rich literary
style?
Folktales
A Sub-Category of Traditional Literature
– Found in every culture
– Originated in lives/imaginations of the people or “folk”
– Children’s favorite type of traditional lit (from age of 3 on)
Vary in content based on original intended audience
– King’s court and Nobility-tales of valor, heroism,
benevolence of ruling class (called castle tales)
– Common people-ruling classes are portrayed as unjust or
hard taskmasters (called cottage tales)
• Riches were considered “fair game” for common folk who were
clever or strong enough to acquire them