I never really enjoyed folk tales much growing up. I can remember my grandmother telling me different fairytales, but not really folk tales. I do not enjoy myths and legends as some people might, but I find them interesting in regards to how people view the world or explain things in nature. I do like how the Aesop fables have moral lessons for the readers. My kids like to watch Between the Lions on television, and they have references to these famous fables from time to time. I would imagine that within the classroom children would enjoy hearing stories with ogres, witches, and other supernatural characters. The popularity of the Harry Potter books is testament to this. Girls seem to enjoy stories of fairies and princesses, and boys love the magical powers and transformation of characters. Last year I read the Magic Treehouse books with my student that I work one on one with and he loved them. As I mentioned in the past, he had great comprehension and he could tell me, with great detail, all that was happening in the stories. These are wonderful adventure books and I recommend them highly. Mary Pope Osbourne is the author and she really transports the reader to another time and place. The chapter was interesting in that it describes different folktales from around the world. These were great titles to remember for incorporating diversity within the classroom.
Linda, I read one of the Magic Treehouse books for my Reading Log, and, frankly, I wasn't impressed with it. I read it for a transitional book, although when it was sandwiched in with Newberry award winners and William Allen White award winners, it may have just not compared. But, I thought the stories, while faniciful still needed to be rooted in realism, and weren't vivid enough for me. But, maybe I'm just picky.
I thought this chapter was interesting, although like Linda said, I wasn't much for folk tales when I was young either. Although, I always enjoyed Aesop's fables. The break down of the usual lessons in fables and fairy tales was very interesting, because I started assigning these definitions to different stories I knew. Alhtough, the book made an excellent point about generally having a male hero or protagonist. This is totally true!
I never really considered it, but it seems like a lot of the female characters are doormats or constantly needing rescued. Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White all come to mind. It's too bad that characters aren't more female-centric. Linda referenced the Harry Potter series, and I think Hermione is a much better example for today's young women. She is strong and feminine. Sometimes she needs help, but many times she's helping others. As a feminist, I made a lot of realization about classic fairy tales as I was reading this that I hadn't really considered. And, I think it is important, even if you use these types of stories in the classroom, to balance them with stories that have strong, independent female protagonists.
It is also interesting the changes that stories are made as they are passed from person to person, and country to country. A personal example of this: My grandmother used to tell me a story of "The Little Indian Girl" -- she always put me in the story, and I always thought she just made it up. As an adult, I randomly found a story with that title, and it was ALMOST THE SAME STORY, with a few different details. It was so interesting to discover that it was probably a story she heard or read when she was young and passed on her own version of it. I'm sure when I tell it to my grandchildren, my version will have morphed over time as well. Which is, I suppose, why this part of literature is such an important part of history -- we can see a timeline of how the stories have changed over the years.
Chapter 6, Traditional Literature, really brought back memories of stories and tales that I have heard during my early childhood and that many kids still hear today. I agree with the assertion made that literature is one of the primary ways that we as people are acquainted with our heritage, culture, and societal norms. Many lessons can be taught in literature that can spare many people from actually having to experience it themselves once they experience it through the lens of other characters. Folktales can be used to transmit cultural beliefs of a particular group of people such as the African tale "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears” or just provides stories that give insight to a culture's superstitions. Fables can be used to teach valuable lessons such as not being too overconfident in the Gingerbread Boy or in being lazy as with the Bruh Lizard and Bruh Rabbit when the rabbit tries to use lizard's magic sword. Myths and legends provide insight into cultures beliefs and stories that teach lessons and admire others with myths focusing on more supernatural or times long ago and legends focusing on more recent times.
Traditional literature of various tales can be used for a variety of factors. They can be used academically by helping kids analyze plot and learn skills in summarizing, they can be used for leisure, they can be used to give students knowledge of other cultures, to teach lessons that can help spare people much pain, and teach students about accepted and unaccepted behaviors among others. Among my favorite traditional literature is Jewish traditional literature. The story about the girl who was gossiping and then was made to try and collect the feathers from a feathered pillow and was unable to perfectly illustrates how difficult and impossible it can be to take back hurtful words. What a magnificent analogy to teach someone.
Seeing the vast variety of traditional literature from all over the world and the influence that literature from all over the world has on American literature; it is important that we as educators provide students with exposure and opportunities to engage in a variety of different literature. Different cultures value different characteristics like Russian folktales that outwardly condemn feelings like jealousy and African folktales that highly value a close knit community; showing children a variety of literature shows them that even though we are all different we are all more alike than different. What amazed me is that no culture tolerated attributes such as lying, cheating, stealing, and wickedness but most valued honesty, kindness, respect, hard work, and cooperation. It says a lot about the human nature in most of us.
Among my most memorable reads from my early childhood are fables. Stories such as The Hare and The Tortoise illustrate lessons that I never forgot as a child and still remember now as an adult. One of my favorites was mentioned in our unit reading; the lion and the mouse. The lion is about to eat the mouse but the mouse implores the lion to let him live stating he will save him one day if he does. The lion acquiesce the mouse's wish since he was so amused that a small creature like that could even offer to save him the might king of the jungle. Later, the mouse does rescue the lion and the two become the best of friends. This taught me that regardless of a person's appearance, circumstance, or background we never know who we may need and that it is important for us to treat others with kindness and respect. This is related to my children and I make it clear to them that the person they mistreat today may be the person they need tomorrow and that what goes around really does come around. Fables can teach lessons through experiences that are not our own and through animals that reflect personalities that are very human like.
I loved fables when i was a child and really loved reading about roman and greek myths as i grew older. I think these kinds of stories are easy for children to read because they can relate to them. even if they aren't true. I believe that fables are important in literature because they portray the culture of where they originated. These are easy ways to help teach history about different geographical regions because then the students have a way to relate what they learn to the area.
in response to anniem, I agree with you in fairy tales women don't have much power and are idealized into what society use to believe women should be. I thought shrek was hilarious for the fact that there wasn't a true princess that needed rescued b/c she could take care of herself.
7 comments:
I never really enjoyed folk tales much growing up. I can remember my grandmother telling me different fairytales, but not really folk tales. I do not enjoy myths and legends as some people might, but I find them interesting in regards to how people view the world or explain things in nature. I do like how the Aesop fables have moral lessons for the readers. My kids like to watch Between the Lions on television, and they have references to these famous fables from time to time.
I would imagine that within the classroom children would enjoy hearing stories with ogres, witches, and other supernatural characters. The popularity of the Harry Potter books is testament to this. Girls seem to enjoy stories of fairies and princesses, and boys love the magical powers and transformation of characters.
Last year I read the Magic Treehouse books with my student that I work one on one with and he loved them. As I mentioned in the past, he had great comprehension and he could tell me, with great detail, all that was happening in the stories. These are wonderful adventure books and I recommend them highly. Mary Pope Osbourne is the author and she really transports the reader to another time and place.
The chapter was interesting in that it describes different folktales from around the world. These were great titles to remember for incorporating diversity within the classroom.
Linda, I read one of the Magic Treehouse books for my Reading Log, and, frankly, I wasn't impressed with it. I read it for a transitional book, although when it was sandwiched in with Newberry award winners and William Allen White award winners, it may have just not compared. But, I thought the stories, while faniciful still needed to be rooted in realism, and weren't vivid enough for me. But, maybe I'm just picky.
I thought this chapter was interesting, although like Linda said, I wasn't much for folk tales when I was young either. Although, I always enjoyed Aesop's fables. The break down of the usual lessons in fables and fairy tales was very interesting, because I started assigning these definitions to different stories I knew. Alhtough, the book made an excellent point about generally having a male hero or protagonist. This is totally true!
I never really considered it, but it seems like a lot of the female characters are doormats or constantly needing rescued. Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White all come to mind. It's too bad that characters aren't more female-centric. Linda referenced the Harry Potter series, and I think Hermione is a much better example for today's young women. She is strong and feminine. Sometimes she needs help, but many times she's helping others. As a feminist, I made a lot of realization about classic fairy tales as I was reading this that I hadn't really considered. And, I think it is important, even if you use these types of stories in the classroom, to balance them with stories that have strong, independent female protagonists.
It is also interesting the changes that stories are made as they are passed from person to person, and country to country. A personal example of this: My grandmother used to tell me a story of "The Little Indian Girl" -- she always put me in the story, and I always thought she just made it up. As an adult, I randomly found a story with that title, and it was ALMOST THE SAME STORY, with a few different details. It was so interesting to discover that it was probably a story she heard or read when she was young and passed on her own version of it. I'm sure when I tell it to my grandchildren, my version will have morphed over time as well. Which is, I suppose, why this part of literature is such an important part of history -- we can see a timeline of how the stories have changed over the years.
Chapter 6, Traditional Literature, really brought back memories of stories and tales that I have heard during my early childhood and that many kids still hear today. I agree with the assertion made that literature is one of the primary ways that we as people are acquainted with our heritage, culture, and societal norms. Many lessons can be taught in literature that can spare many people from actually having to experience it themselves once they experience it through the lens of other characters. Folktales can be used to transmit cultural beliefs of a particular group of people such as the African tale "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears” or just provides stories that give insight to a culture's superstitions. Fables can be used to teach valuable lessons such as not being too overconfident in the Gingerbread Boy or in being lazy as with the Bruh Lizard and Bruh Rabbit when the rabbit tries to use lizard's magic sword. Myths and legends provide insight into cultures beliefs and stories that teach lessons and admire others with myths focusing on more supernatural or times long ago and legends focusing on more recent times.
Traditional literature of various tales can be used for a variety of factors. They can be used academically by helping kids analyze plot and learn skills in summarizing, they can be used for leisure, they can be used to give students knowledge of other cultures, to teach lessons that can help spare people much pain, and teach students about accepted and unaccepted behaviors among others. Among my favorite traditional literature is Jewish traditional literature. The story about the girl who was gossiping and then was made to try and collect the feathers from a feathered pillow and was unable to perfectly illustrates how difficult and impossible it can be to take back hurtful words. What a magnificent analogy to teach someone.
Seeing the vast variety of traditional literature from all over the world and the influence that literature from all over the world has on American literature; it is important that we as educators provide students with exposure and opportunities to engage in a variety of different literature. Different cultures value different characteristics like Russian folktales that outwardly condemn feelings like jealousy and African folktales that highly value a close knit community; showing children a variety of literature shows them that even though we are all different we are all more alike than different. What amazed me is that no culture tolerated attributes such as lying, cheating, stealing, and wickedness but most valued honesty, kindness, respect, hard work, and cooperation. It says a lot about the human nature in most of us.
Linda,
Among my most memorable reads from my early childhood are fables. Stories such as The Hare and The Tortoise illustrate lessons that I never forgot as a child and still remember now as an adult. One of my favorites was mentioned in our unit reading; the lion and the mouse. The lion is about to eat the mouse but the mouse implores the lion to let him live stating he will save him one day if he does. The lion acquiesce the mouse's wish since he was so amused that a small creature like that could even offer to save him the might king of the jungle. Later, the mouse does rescue the lion and the two become the best of friends. This taught me that regardless of a person's appearance, circumstance, or background we never know who we may need and that it is important for us to treat others with kindness and respect. This is related to my children and I make it clear to them that the person they mistreat today may be the person they need tomorrow and that what goes around really does come around. Fables can teach lessons through experiences that are not our own and through animals that reflect personalities that are very human like.
Gregg
I loved fables when i was a child and really loved reading about roman and greek myths as i grew older. I think these kinds of stories are easy for children to read because they can relate to them. even if they aren't true. I believe that fables are important in literature because they portray the culture of where they originated. These are easy ways to help teach history about different geographical regions because then the students have a way to relate what they learn to the area.
in response to anniem,
I agree with you in fairy tales women don't have much power and are idealized into what society use to believe women should be. I thought shrek was hilarious for the fact that there wasn't a true princess that needed rescued b/c she could take care of herself.
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