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Narrative Logo - Click for Main Menu Lecture III: The Characteristics and History of the Oral Tale
Review of Last Week Oral tales are as old as Language itself. From the earliest pictographs in caves to the mysterious narratives of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, to the Urban Legends of today, we have always wanted to transform the truths of our lives into universal stories. The legendstock of Folklore can be divided into several categories. Fairy tales, nursery rhymes, "tall tales," ghost stories, chants, jokes, songs, "old wives' tales," spells, parables, urban legends, and, of course, fables are all part of this age-old tradition. These folk creations may circulate in cultures for centuries before they are captured in print. Characteristics of Oral Material We only had time to start this section, and so will continue it in Lecture III. The roots of Cinderella and the genius of Perrault
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