Myths and Epics Fables Folk Tales, Fairy Tales, and Legends What Are the Forms of Fiction?
Fiction Today
Short Story Novel Novella Other Forms of Fiction These stories have traveled The oldest stories come from the oral tradition knowledge and wisdom that have been passed down by word of mouth. The Oldest Forms of Fiction
from generation to generation from culture to culture The oral tradition brings us many different types of fictional stories. The Oldest Forms of Fiction
[End of Section] Myths and Epics Folk Tales, Fairy Tales, and Legends Fables Our ancestors created stories called myths to explain the world around them. Myths and Epics
The characters in myths include gods and goddesses, monsters, and heroes. Myths and Epics
Myths answer big questions such as, Myths and Epics
Where do we go when we die? Why do we fall in love? How can we tell right from wrong? How did we learn about fire? How was the world created? What makes the sun rise? Epics were originally long poems about the deeds of heroes. Gods and heroes of myths often appear in long stories called epics. Myths and Epics
Epic heroes possessed qualities valued by their cultures. Hero: Achilles Qualities: brave, fierce warrior Culture: ancient Greece What questions does this myth answer? Quick Check The Titans were gigantic beings who inhabited Earth a long time ago. The Titan Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus were given the task of making human beings. To set these human creatures apart from all other animals, Prometheus gave them a special gift. He went up to heaven, lighted his torch at the chariot of the sun, and brought down fire to man. [End of Section] Myths and Epics
The fable is another kind of story told all over the world. Fables
A fable is a very brief teaching tale. It presents a lesson about life, usually warning us about human weaknesses. Many fables end with a moral, a statement of the lesson they teach. Fables
Look before you leap. What is the moral of this fable? Quick Check The Fawn and His Mother A young fawn once said to his Mother, "You are larger than a dog, and swifter, and more used to running, and you have your horns as a defense; why, then, O Mother! do the hounds frighten you so?" She smiled, and said: "I know full well, my son, that all you say is true. I have the advantages you mention, but when I hear even the bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as fast as I can." No arguments will give courage to the coward. [End of Section] Fables
enchanted princesses, elves, and giants A folk tale is a fictional tale that has been passed down orally through generations of storytellers. Folk tales usually feature elements such as Folk Tales, Fairy Tales, and Legends
genies, flying carpets, and magic lamps talking animals and three magic wishes A special form of folk tale is the fairy tale. Fairy tales usually start with the words Once upon a time. Folk Tales, Fairy Tales, and Legends
fantasy They usually involve a conflict between good and evil a happy ending A legend is a folk story with elements of fantasy but some basis in historical fact. Folk Tales, Fairy Tales, and Legends
Legends become more exaggerated and less accurate the longer they are told. King Arthur may have been a real leader in 6 th -century Britain. He didnt really pull a magic sword out of a stone. Quick Check [End of Section] Which of these sentences is most likely the beginning of a fairy tale? Which sounds as if it is part of a legend? A. The lumberjack Paul Bunyan was so big and strong that he could straighten out a road just by pulling on it. B. Once upon a time, a king suffered from a mysterious illness caused by a magical curse. Folk Tales, Fairy Tales, and Legends When people talk about fiction today, they usually mean short stories and novels. Fiction Today
You can also experience fictional worlds in movies and TV shows comic books and graphic stories video games Readers often place fiction into specific categories. Fiction Today
Short stories usually focus on A short story is a brief storyabout five to twenty pages longthat you can read in one sitting. Short Story
[End of Section] one or two main characters one main setting one main theme A novel is a fictional story that is more than one hundred pages long. Novel
[End of Section] Compared to a short story, a novel has more characters, settings, and themes has a more complex plot and more detailed characters and settings A novella is shorter than a novel but longer than a short story. Novella
[End of Section] A novella is often published with a collection of short stories or as a small book by itself Fiction takes many other forms, too. Other Forms of Fiction
[End of Section] dramas radio and television scripts narrative poems (poems that tell a story) Youll find some of these forms in your textbook. graphic stories and novels comic strips Quick Check [End of Section] What Are the Forms of Fiction?
Which items on the right are forms of fiction? Select the correct items to complete the diagram. Fiction folk tales ? ? ? novels graphic stories legends ? biographies fables novella essays myths short stories Analyze Forms of Fiction
Your Turn Find at least one example of a movie, TV show, or book for each type of fiction listed below. Explain your choices to the class. adventure mystery fantasy science fiction historical fiction romance The End