Comparison between Folk Literature and Modern Fantasy:
Fantasy traces its roots to the folktales, legends, and myths of ancient peoples. However, traditional tales are from the oral tradition of stories passed from generation to generation by word of mouth, while modern fantasies are original stores that come from the imaginations of known authors and its transmission is through the written medium.
Both folktales and fantasies contain fantastical elements. However, folktales are always set in a familiar world; they have stock characters, conventional plots, and traditional motifs, whereas writers of fantasy create a new world with something unusual and its own possibilities. Therefore, a fantasy’s settings, characters, and plots tend to be much more complex than those of the folktales.
Traditional Characters
While traditional literature can vary in type, most stories of this genre share common characteristics, especially character archetypes. To help readers easily recognize the story's problem, its characters are broken into clear good versus evil. The hero of the story is usually given a mission that seems impossible to achieve, and the villain is set to keep the hero from accomplishing it.
The main characters can be humans, gods, or animals. They are usually very one-dimensional, meaning that each character will have one definable trait used to describe him/her. These traits could be physical or related to the characters' personalities. For example, if there is a witch character, the witch will most likely be defined by her evil personality, with 'no personal growth' or change of heart.
Types of Traditional Literature
Traditional literature can fall into a number of categories: proverbs, fairytales, folklore, fables, animal tales, myths and legends, etc. The following are explanations of four of the more common types.
Fairytales
Often romantic and always fictional, these stories usually occur 'long, long ago' in 'a far away land.' They are stories of enchanted creatures like witches, giants, and dragons, and fanciful settings like castles or forests. Common characteristics include reoccurring numbers, royalty, and of course the happily-ever-after ending. For example, take 'Cinderella', the story that began in the late 17th century. Cinderella, a beautiful girl enslaved by her evil stepmother, longs for a better life. When her fairy godmother appears to grant her a wish, Cinderella meets the Prince, who saves her and marries her. The lesson is that kindness and love will triumph over selfishness and evil.
Fables
Also fictional, these stories are typically short in length and heavily allegorical or symbolic. They use morals to both entertain and educate the readers. Common characteristics include talking animals, few characters, and a lot of action, with the lesson of the story appearing at the end. For example, take the fable of 'The Tortoise and the Hare'. The Hare mocks the Tortoise for his slowness, so the Tortoise challenges him to a race. Though the Hare is stronger and faster, he lets pride and over-confidence get in his way. The Tortoise, who is slow yet steady, wins the race, concluding to readers that perseverance is more worthy than speed or strength.
Legends
Unlike the other two, this type of traditional literature is based on real people and events, or those thought to have been real. The stories are exaggerated to depict heroism, or to give explanation to something not necessarily explainable. Common characteristics include events that have occurred in the recent past, secular themes, and a hero with an astonishing ability. For example, 'The Legend of Paul Bunyan', first referenced in 1904, describes the giant and hardworking lumberjack and his companion,
Settings transcend the world of reality. Some stories take place entirely in a fantasy world, and other stories travel back and forth between the real world and the world of make-believe. The fantasy world is vividly and convincingly described, regardless of how fantastical it may be.
Characters are well developed and behave in believable ways. They may be fantastic creatures or they can appear to be ordinary. The protagonist possesses a clearly defined (and perhaps complex) personality and exhibits growth during the course of the story.
Plots are well structured and believable too. They have logical actions. Magic is an essential element of the plot, which keeps children involved, but all fantasies must have their limits or else they devolve into nonsense. The resolution makes sense within the realm of the fantasy world or the rules of the fantasy.
Themes reflect the same universal ideas present in other forms of children’s literature – the value of friendship, loyalty, the overcoming of fear, respect for others, coming of age. Themes are typically woven into the story and developed metaphorically through the characters and their actions. They can reveal important lessons and form the basis of decision making, but the writer of fantasy does not preach at us.
The tone is often serious, though stories are often light, airy, and humorous. Fantasy is perfectly suited to the thoughtful
Comparison between Folk Literature and Modern Fantasy:Fantasy traces its roots to the folktales, legends, and myths of ancient peoples. However, traditional tales are from the oral tradition of stories passed from generation to generation by word of mouth, while modern fantasies are original stores that come from the imaginations of known authors and its transmission is through the written medium.Both folktales and fantasies contain fantastical elements. However, folktales are always set in a familiar world; they have stock characters, conventional plots, and traditional motifs, whereas writers of fantasy create a new world with something unusual and its own possibilities. Therefore, a fantasy’s settings, characters, and plots tend to be much more complex than those of the folktales.Traditional CharactersWhile traditional literature can vary in type, most stories of this genre share common characteristics, especially character archetypes. To help readers easily recognize the story's problem, its characters are broken into clear good versus evil. The hero of the story is usually given a mission that seems impossible to achieve, and the villain is set to keep the hero from accomplishing it.The main characters can be humans, gods, or animals. They are usually very one-dimensional, meaning that each character will have one definable trait used to describe him/her. These traits could be physical or related to the characters' personalities. For example, if there is a witch character, the witch will most likely be defined by her evil personality, with 'no personal growth' or change of heart.Types of Traditional LiteratureTraditional literature can fall into a number of categories: proverbs, fairytales, folklore, fables, animal tales, myths and legends, etc. The following are explanations of four of the more common types.FairytalesOften romantic and always fictional, these stories usually occur 'long, long ago' in 'a far away land.' They are stories of enchanted creatures like witches, giants, and dragons, and fanciful settings like castles or forests. Common characteristics include reoccurring numbers, royalty, and of course the happily-ever-after ending. For example, take 'Cinderella', the story that began in the late 17th century. Cinderella, a beautiful girl enslaved by her evil stepmother, longs for a better life. When her fairy godmother appears to grant her a wish, Cinderella meets the Prince, who saves her and marries her. The lesson is that kindness and love will triumph over selfishness and evil.FablesAlso fictional, these stories are typically short in length and heavily allegorical or symbolic. They use morals to both entertain and educate the readers. Common characteristics include talking animals, few characters, and a lot of action, with the lesson of the story appearing at the end. For example, take the fable of 'The Tortoise and the Hare'. The Hare mocks the Tortoise for his slowness, so the Tortoise challenges him to a race. Though the Hare is stronger and faster, he lets pride and over-confidence get in his way. The Tortoise, who is slow yet steady, wins the race, concluding to readers that perseverance is more worthy than speed or strength.LegendsUnlike the other two, this type of traditional literature is based on real people and events, or those thought to have been real. The stories are exaggerated to depict heroism, or to give explanation to something not necessarily explainable. Common characteristics include events that have occurred in the recent past, secular themes, and a hero with an astonishing ability. For example, 'The Legend of Paul Bunyan', first referenced in 1904, describes the giant and hardworking lumberjack and his companion,Settings transcend the world of reality. Some stories take place entirely in a fantasy world, and other stories travel back and forth between the real world and the world of make-believe. The fantasy world is vividly and convincingly described, regardless of how fantastical it may be.Characters are well developed and behave in believable ways. They may be fantastic creatures or they can appear to be ordinary. The protagonist possesses a clearly defined (and perhaps complex) personality and exhibits growth during the course of the story.Plots are well structured and believable too. They have logical actions. Magic is an essential element of the plot, which keeps children involved, but all fantasies must have their limits or else they devolve into nonsense. The resolution makes sense within the realm of the fantasy world or the rules of the fantasy.Themes reflect the same universal ideas present in other forms of children’s literature – the value of friendship, loyalty, the overcoming of fear, respect for others, coming of age. Themes are typically woven into the story and developed metaphorically through the characters and their actions. They can reveal important lessons and form the basis of decision making, but the writer of fantasy does not preach at us. The tone is often serious, though stories are often light, airy, and humorous. Fantasy is perfectly suited to the thoughtful
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