Subcategories of Folktales

• Cumulative Tales:

  • Tales that sequentially repeat actions, characters, or speeches until a climax is reached

• Beast Tales:

  • Tales about talking animals, show the cleverness of one animal and the stupidity of another

• Magic and Wonder Tales:

  • Contain some element of magic

• Pourquoi Tales:

  • “why” tales -- answer a question or explain how animals, plants or humans were created and why they have certain characteristics

• Realistic Tales:

  • Tales that have realistic plots and involve people who could have existed

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