Native American What is a Folk Tale?

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A folk tale is a story or legend handed down from generation to generation usually by oral retelling. Folk tales often explain something that happens in nature or convey a certain truth about life.

• The beginning of the story starts with "Once upon a time . . . " or a similar phrase.
• Magic events, characters, and objects are part of the story
• One character is someone of royalty (king, queen, prince, princess, etc.)
• One character is wicked.
• One character is good.
• Goodness is rewarded in the story.
• Certain numbers like three and seven are in the story (three eggs, seven sisters, etc.)
• The story ends with ". . .they lived happily ever after."

List folk tales you have read this school year.