4 Introduction to Folklore
Time requirement: 80 minutes.
Folklore permeates many aspects of everyday life, often manifesting in various forms that may go unnoticed. These examples illustrate how folklore permeates various aspects of everyday life, shaping beliefs, behaviors, traditions, and cultural identity.
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to identify pieces of folklore within their own lives and communities.
- Students will be able to define terms: folklore, folk group.
- Students will be able to identify and discuss folk groups to which they belong.
- Students should be able to name different genres of folklore.
Knowledge: Students need to have prior knowledge of genres of literature and other media.
Materials:
- Printed/PDF handouts of applicable definitions.
- Access to internet to review online sources.
Strategies and Activities:
Discussion: Start with a brief discussion to gauge students’ prior knowledge and understanding of folklore. Allow time for students to share their thoughts and ideas about what folklore is and include examples from everyday life, family life, and community life (e.g. church groups, local clubs, local gathering places, schools).
Types of Folklore: Introduce the different types of folklore, such as myths, legends, folktales, and contemporary/urban legends. Provide examples and explain the characteristics of each type. Allow for questions and discussion.
Assignments and Assessments:
Research: Assign students a research activity where they explore examples of folklore from various parts of the United States. Allocate time for students to conduct research independently or in small groups and then share their findings with the class. (Optional: Ask students to focus on monster legends and ghost stories from different regions of the U.S.).
Vocabulary
Folklore refers to the traditional beliefs, customs, stories, songs, and practices passed down orally within a culture or community. It encompasses the shared knowledge and traditions of a group of people, often transmitted informally from generation to generation.
Folk groups are social or cultural communities within which folklore is shared and transmitted. These groups can be based on factors such as ethnicity, region, religion, or shared experiences. Folk groups play a crucial role in preserving and perpetuating folklore through oral tradition and cultural practices.
Here are some examples of folklore in everyday life:
- Nursery rhymes and Children’s Songs are part of the oral tradition passed down through generations. They often contain whimsical or nonsensical elements and serve as a form of entertainment and education for young children. Examples include “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” “Ring Around the Rosie,” and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.”
- Many holiday traditions and customs have their roots in folklore and ancient rituals. For example, the practice of carving pumpkins for Halloween stems from the Celtic festival of Samhain, while the tradition of hanging mistletoe during Christmas has ancient Norse origins. Holiday traditions vary from family to family, meaning each family unit creates their own folklore while also celebrating larger cultural folk traditions such as those mentioned above.
- Customs and rituals associated with life events such as birth, marriage, and death often contain elements of folklore. These practices vary widely across cultures and may include rituals for warding off evil spirits, ensuring fertility, or honoring ancestors. Examples include baby showers, wedding ceremonies, and funeral traditions.
- Foodways are food traditions and culinary practices are often imbued with folklore and cultural symbolism. Recipes, cooking techniques, and dining customs may be passed down through generations, reflecting cultural heritage and regional identity. Examples include traditional regional or ethnic meals, food-related superstitions, and folk remedies involving certain foods. In Arkansas, some regional foods associated with the state are fried pickles, cheese dip, and chocolate rolls.
Examples of Common Folklore Narrative Genres:
Myths
Definition: Myths are traditional stories that often involve gods, supernatural beings, or heroic figures and are typically set in a time before recorded history. Myths seek to explain natural phenomena, religious beliefs, cultural customs, and the origins of the world or specific aspects of it.
Characteristics: Myths often feature larger-than-life characters, supernatural events, and symbolic motifs. They are deeply rooted in cultural and religious beliefs, serving as foundational narratives that shape a society’s worldview and values.
Examples: Examples of myths include creation myths (e.g., the Greek myth of the creation of the world by Zeus), hero myths (e.g., the Norse myth of Thor battling the giants), and cosmogonic myths (e.g., the Hindu myth of the cosmic turtle supporting the world).
Folktales
Definition: Folktales are traditional narratives passed down orally within a culture or community. They typically feature ordinary characters, animals, or supernatural beings and often convey moral lessons, cultural values, or entertainment. Folktales may vary in structure and content across different cultures and regions.
Characteristics: Folktales are characterized by their simplicity, universality, and adaptability. They often follow a narrative structure with recognizable motifs such as quests, trickery, or transformation. Folktales may be humorous, didactic, or fantastical in nature.
Examples: Examples of folktales include “Cinderella,” “The Tortoise and the Hare,” and “Anansi the Spider” tales from various cultures around the world.
Contemporary/Urban Legends
Definition: Contemporary legends (popularly known as urban legends) are contemporary folklore narratives that circulate widely within a society, often through word of mouth, mass media, or digital platforms. Urban legends typically involve bizarre, eerie, or shocking events and are presented as true stories, though they often contain elements of exaggeration or fabrication.
Characteristics: Contemporary legends exploit societal anxieties, fears, and taboos, often serving as cautionary tales or moral warnings. They frequently feature familiar settings and characters and may be based on real events or locations, though they are embellished or distorted in the retelling. A common feature of contemporary legends is the motif of “a friend of a friend” (I heard it from a ‘friend of a friend’).
Examples: Examples of urban legends include stories of phantom hitchhikers, haunted houses, mysterious creatures (e.g., Slenderman), and contemporary legends such as “The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs.” In our state, the Arkansas 365 Hitchhiker of Woodson is an urban legend.
Legends
Definition: Legends are traditional narratives that are typically based on historical events or real people but have been embellished or transformed over time through oral tradition. Legends often blend elements of truth and fiction, blurring the line between historical fact and mythic storytelling.
Characteristics: Legends are characterized by their connection to specific times, places, and individuals, often featuring local heroes, historical figures, or iconic landmarks. They may contain supernatural elements or miraculous occurrences but are grounded in a recognizable cultural context.
Examples: Examples of legends include stories of local folklore creatures (e.g., the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot), historical figures endowed with mythical attributes (e.g., King Arthur), and tales of extraordinary events or phenomena passed down through generations within a community.
