Primary Framework contact | Primary Framework site map
Primary Framework search
Traditional or ‘folk’ tales include myths, legends, fables and fairy tales. Often originating in the oral tradition, examples exist in most cultures, providing a rich, culturally diverse resource for children’s reading and writing. Many of these stories served an original purpose of passing on traditional knowledge or sharing cultural beliefs.
They tend to have themes that deal with life’s important issues and their narrative structures are often based on a quest, a journey or a series of trials and forfeits.
Characters usually represent the archetypical opposites of good and evil, hero and villain, strong and weak or wise and foolish.
The style of traditional stories usually retains links with their origins in oral storytelling: rich, evocative vocabulary, repetition and patterned language, and strong use of imagery. When written in a traditional style, they also use some archaic language forms and vocabulary. Many regional stories include localised vocabulary and dialect forms.
Different types of traditional tales tend to have some narrative features (purpose, characters, language, style, structure) of their own:
|
Purpose: To provide a fictional explanation for natural phenomena. Many cultures use myths to explain the world and its mysteries by handing them down from one generation to the next. Myths can also pass on cultural, religious or spiritual beliefs and traditions. Link to:
Year 1 Narrative - Unit 2 - Stories from a range of cultures/Predictable patterned language |
||
| Generic structure | Language features | Knowledge for the writer |
|---|---|---|
|
The plot is often based on a long and dangerous journey, a quest or a series of trials for the hero. The plot usually includes incredible or miraculous events, where characters behave in superhuman ways using unusual powers or with the help of superhuman beings. Myths are often much longer texts than other traditional stories (apart from some legends) especially in their original form. They provide a very useful contrast with shorter forms of traditional narrative such as fables. |
Rich vocabulary evoking the power and splendour of the characters and settings: Hercules hurled the glittering spear with all the strength of a mighty army. Use of imagery to help the reader imagine. Simile is used widely to help convey grand settings and describe awe-inspiring characters: Thor’s hammer was as heavy as a mountain. Vivid description of characters and settings. Fast-moving narration of action to keep the drama moving along. Myths tend to make less use of dialogue and repetition than some other types of traditional story. Myths often provide good examples of the use of symbols: Theseus unwinds a thread behind him in the Minotaur’s den – a thread could be seen as a symbol of his link between the real world of humans and the supernatural world of the gods. |
Make the characters larger than life by giving them supernatural powers or strong characteristics like courage and wisdom. Create a negative character who is the opposite of your hero: good and evil, brave and cowardly, strong and weak. Consider including a character who is a ‘trickster’ to add to the fun or to create twists in the plot. Choose a setting that gives a dramatic backdrop for the action: (a huge, dense forest, a mountain shrouded in icy fog or a wide, sun-baked desert). |
Click here for information on different file formats and their usage.
Channel information • Teaching resources • Streaming video of all programmes