Six Short Folktales

By Clement B.G. London Ed.D.

Folktales share a common feature of being told over and over, with numerous variations, according to the tellers of such tales. Usually such tales convey lessons of morality and virtue, among other things. In this sense, some persons may feel somewhat obliged to include human factors into their belief systems as well as in their behaviors

Thus, in that sense, the impact of such stories may become integral parts of social interaction between and among individuals, small or large groups and, even extended families. In addition, such stories often relate to the bonds found among certain human aggregations, as they relate to fundamental commitments to obedience, honor, responsibility, orderliness, mystery and humor.

The stories arc also offered as attempts to pass on to younger generations of language arts students, some literary thoughts that have come down from elders, who may not have fully recorded then; nor may have presented them in straight, declarative English. Nonetheless, although they may not have been similarly told, their presentation in the present format enables them to be just as important and enjoyable. Tellers, speakers, readers and writers of such stories may do likewise.


Clement B.G. London, Ed.D.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 28, 2009
• ISBN: 9781477163047

Book preview

Copyright © 2009 by Clement B.G. London, Ed.D.

ISBN:          Softcover                                 978-1-4363-2625-4

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4771-6304-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission

in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

46984

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

HOW THE PELICAN

GOT ITS LARGE BEAK

HOW THE WASP GOT ITS STING

THE HORSE AND THE TORTOISE

THE DISSATISFIED TORTOISE

THE MONKEY AND

THE GRU-GRU TREE

HOW THE CRAB GOT

CRACKS ON ITS BACK

INTRODUCTION

Folktales are prose narratives which, because they were set in any time frame and place, seem almost timeless and placeless. Folktales usually tell of the adventures of human or animal characters. They contain common narrative motifs such as: supernatural adversaries (giants, witches, etc.), supernatural helpers, magic or marvels, tasks and quests, as well as common themes as reward and punishment of evil (although not all themes and motifs are found within one tale).

Some subcategories of folktales include fables, in which animal characters talk and act like humans. There are also myths, which are believed to be accounts of things that happened in the past, and are usually ritualistic.

Then, there are Legends which are similar to myths, but are more related to life, and the characters are largely human.

However, because many folktales are said to have originated in African mythologies, they derive their sustenance from situations that are thought to be replete with varying themes, including although not limited to, beautiful, mysterious legends about birth, as well as the rebirth and transformation of heroes and deroines.

These stories, SIX SHORT FOLKTALES emerge out of a larger context of folktales, and they derive their value from everyday experiences, customs and conventions of language usage. They provide bases of value and define structures that are based on hope and change. As such, these stories are meant to provide very pleasurable reading, listening, speaking and writing for children and young adults.

Folktales share a common feature of being told over and over, with numerous variations, according to the tellers of such tales. Usually such tales convey lessons of morality and virtue, among other things. In this sense, some persons may feel somewhat obliged to include human factors into their belief systems as well as in their behaviors

Thus, in that sense, the impact of such stories may become integral parts of social interaction between and among individuals, small or large groups and, even extended families. In addition, such stories often relate to the bonds found among certain human aggregations, as they relate to fundamental commitments to obedience, honor, responsibility, orderliness, mystery and humor.

The stories are also offered as attempts to pass on to younger generations of language arts students, some literary thoughts that have come down from elders, who may not have fully recorded them; nor may have presented them in straight, declarative English. Nonetheless, although they may not have been