Folklore as Narrative Genre

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at folklore, a body of tales of the common populace or 'folk'. It challenges the idea that modern society does not have a corpus folklore anymore, and that contemporary listeners have moved on from such superstitious ways of looking at the world. It argues that modern society still contains its own myths, legends, and fables, even though these tales may not always be called 'folklore.' The paper concludes that folklore remains part of our culture, and most cultures, because narrative is such an effective means of teaching lessons, and passing on commonly received wisdom and teachings.

From the Paper:

"Fables thus reaffirm common cultural lessons, as legends affirm common cultural vales and myths create a sense of a common national or group purpose. Although animal tales may have declined in popularity as teaching stories, there remain many fables that are told and retold to children and adults alike, over the dinner table. Quite literally, the fable that children are often told, that their parents had it 'so much harder' and that they had to walk 'miles through the snow to get to school' is never literally believed or taken seriously, like the myth of Columbus or even the Kentucky Fried Rat. But the tale is meant half-seriously, in hopes that children will appreciate the moral, that they should honor the sacrifices of their elders in deference to what their elders have suffered on their accord, so the next generation can enjoy a better life."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aesop. "Androcles and the Lion." From Aesop's Fables. Translated by G.F. Townsend. 25 Oct 2007.http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_aesop_androcles.htm
• "Kentucky Fried Rat." Snopes.com. 25 Oct 2007.<http://www.snopes.com/horrors/food/friedrat.asp>
• Kohler, Peter. "Q: What is a fable?" About.com. 25 Oct 2007.<http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/folklore/f/fable1.htm>
• Lombardi, Esther. "Defining Terms: Myth, folklore, legend, etc." About.com. 25 Oct 2007. <http://classiclit.about.com/cs/10th14thcentury/a/aa_definemyth.htm>

More papers on Folklore as Narrative Genre:

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• Persuasive Essay # 133034 : "Normative and Adaptive Applications of Genre"
• Essay # 86015 : "Challenging a Genre"

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