D1, Section 4: Oral Literature

• Fables: 1st Major Style of Oral Literature

  1. Oral tales containing didactic; used animals as characters
  2. Trickster Tales: a subgenre of fable; feature "tricksters"


  Key Terms:

  • didactic - moral message
  • tricksters - clever and mischievous characters who either parody or satirize human nature
• Legend: 2nd Major Style of Oral Literature

  1. Myth - a story about heroes; based on historical figures, embellishment might be used
  2. Famous Legends include: Helen of Troy, Trojan War, El Dorado, Robin Hood
  3. Legend: often used to stress a society's values or ideas as a character and lessons; tend to be based off historical figures/events
• Parables: 3rd Major Style of Oral Literature

  1. Parables - stories with an emotive or moral significance, but that are told in allegories
  2. Allegories - "a story, picture, or other piece of art that uses symbols to convey a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one"

  • its use helped illustrate allegory
  • parables are symbolic stories that give a message