Folktales
Many attempts have been made to define, classify, and describe the folktale. None of these attempts did a completely satisfactory job; the folktale is just too inclusive for such division. The term covers almost any traditional narrative, either oral or literary. Its diverse forms include legends and traditions, fairy tales, animal tales, fables, and of course myths.
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- Choctaw Creation myth, a Choctaw myth.
How the Choctaw found a new home land. - Iktomi, a Lakota myth.
How the spiderman helped them to take the horses from their enemies. - Kana'ti and Selu, a traditional Cherokee oral telling.
Description follows. - The Legend of the Buffalo Dance, a Blackfoot legend.
How the people learned a special ritual from the buffalo. - How the man got in the moon, an Oto myth.
How the image of a man we see in the moon got there. - The Coming of Medicine, a Native American myth.
How medicine was introduced to humans. - Ullikana, a Hawaiian tale (illustrated).
How the horses of Hawaii got their own guardian spirits. - White Buffalo Calf Woman, a Lakota myth.
How a mysterieus woman taught the people the way of life.
- Hunahpu and Ixbalanque, a Mayan legend.
How the sun and the moon came into existance.
- The Dun Horse, a Russian folktale (illustrated).
How a farm boy became a great prince. - The Fisherman's Widow, a Greek folktale (illustrated).
How an old widow chose death, but found happiness in stead. - Hansel and Gretel, a popular fairy tale.
How two children outsmarted a witch and brought wealth to their family. - Jack o'Lantern, a popular folktale
How a farmer attempted to outsmart the devil. - Rapunzel, a popular fairy tale.
How a girl, brought up by an enchantress, escaped her misery. - Queen Pedauqe, an Occitanian tale.
How a queen disproved a strange rumour about her feet. - River of the Princess, a Slavic tale.
How a princess brought fertility back to the land. - The Story of Pressyne, from Medieval France.
The story of a beautiful fairy who married the King of Albany. - The Story of Melusine, from Medieval France.
The story of the first daughter of the fairy Pressyne and King Elynas of Albany - The Story of Palatyne, from Medieval France.
The story of the second daughter of the fairy Pressyne and King Elynas of Albany - The Tale of Taliesin, a Celtic story.
The life of the great bard Taliesin. - The Devil's Dyke, a Sussex folktale.
How the devil was fooled by an old woman.
- The Five Mares of Mohammed, an Arabic tale.
How Mohammed discovered the finest of Arab horses. - The River Sambation, a Jewish myth.
How a group of Israelites found refuge in a place protected by a wondrous river.
- Moonflower, a Japanese story (illustrated).
How a gift from the moon finally brought happiness to a childless couple. - Rahu and Ketu, a Hindu myth.
How the gods triumphed over the demons.
- Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon tale.
How the great hero Beowulf vanguished the dragon Grendel. Retold by Robert Hoffman. - Beauty and the Beast, a popular fairy tale.
Retold by Robert Hoffman. - Hansel and Gretel, a popular fairy tale.
Retold by Robert Hoffman. - Little Mermaid, a popular fairy tale
How a little mermaid became a human being. Retold by Robert Hoffman. - Pandora's Box, an adaption of the Greek myth.
How the opening of a simple box led to all the unhappiness and sorrow in the world. Retold by Robert Hoffman. - Rapunzel, a popular fairy tale.
Retold by Robert Hoffman. - Saving Spring, a Scandinavian legend.
How Spring was jailed by Old Man Winter and rescued in an ingenious way.
Retold by Ilil Arbel.
Editor: Ilil Arbel
There are currently 32 articles in this area.
This section was last updated on November 04, 2005.
