TSS - Module Overview

Traditional Short Stories

Introduction

Myths, legends, tales, and fables among other types of traditional short stories have been around for centuries. You may be familiar with the stories of Zeus, Poseidon, and other gods from Greek Mythology which date back to 1800 B.C., but there are many other types of traditional short stories that people have passed down orally through the ages. These fables and tales serve to entertain groups of people; and the myths, legends, and proverbs serve to teach people. In this module, you will receive an introduction to traditional short stories consisting of popular myths, legends, proverbs, tales, and fables from various parts of the world. From these traditional short stories, you will begin to understand the beliefs and values held by cultures from different parts of the world and make connections to your chosen novel. Similarly, with an understanding of these characters and stories, you will have the opportunity to craft your own traditional short stories.

Essential Questions

1. Can I break down different characters and explain their motivations and how they develop throughout the text to add to the plot or theme?
2. Can I write a narrative about an imagined experience using well-chosen details and well-chosen events?

Key Terms

Fable:  A short story that usually is about animals and is intended to teach a lesson.

Fairytale:  A type of short story that has magic and good vs. evil characters.

Tall Tale:  An exaggerated, unreliable story told for entertainment.

Trickster Tale:  A tale that includes a trickster - a clever animal or person who plays tricks on other characters.

Legend:  A traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but can't be proven.

Myths:  A made up story that explains the existence of a natural phenomenon.

Wisdom Literature:  Literature that teaches how to live properly.

Moral:  A message or lesson to be learned from a story or play.

Motif:  A recurring image, idea, or symbol.

Archetype:  A universally known or understood character, situation, or theme.

Villain:  An evil character in the story.

Hero: A character admired for good acts.

Setting:  The time and place in which a story takes place.

Plot:  The series of events that make up a story.

Characters:  A person in a novel, story, play, or movie

Indirect Characterization:  When the narrator shows the reader something about the character through the character's actions, things the character says, or things other characters say.

Direct Characterization: When the author specifically reveals traits about the character in a direct, straightforward manner.

Flat Character: A character whose personality can be described as having one or two personality traits and who does not have a lot of importance or depth.

Round Character: A complex character with many personality traits and who does have many characteristics, high importance, and much depth.

Static Character:  A character who does not undergo any type of inner change (personality/attitude) throughout the text.

Dynamic Character: A character who does undergo a type of inner change (personality/attitude) throughout the text.

Foil Characters:  A character who creates a contrast to a different character in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character (good appears more "good" when evil is present).

Point of View: The perspective from which a story is told.

Theme:  The main idea of a piece of writing or work of literature that an author is trying to express to the reader about life or human nature.

Internal Conflict:  The psychological or mental struggle within the mind of a literary or dramatic character.

External Conflict: The struggle between a literary or dramatic character and an outside force such as nature or another character.

Protagonist:  The main character of a literary work.

Antagonist:  A character or force against which another character struggles.

Mood: The attitude the reader has from a text or work of literature.

Tone:  The attitude the writer gives off toward a subject.

Symbolism:  The use of one object or idea to represent another object or idea.

Key Terms Review

Just like other short stories, traditional short stories have all the different elements that create an engaging piece of literature. Take a moment to review the vocabulary associated with short stories; most of the vocabulary will be a review: