Folktales

What is a folktale?
The folktale is a story, passed down verbally from generation to generation. Each storyteller told the stories a little differently, making them more interesting and fascinating as the ages passed. Different folktales bear the characteristics of the culture, folklore and customs of the people from which they originated.

African Folktales

Vingananee and the Tree Toad click on this link to read the folktale

A strange animal called the Vingananee beats up all the other animals and eats their stew until the tiny Tree Toad offers to fight him.

Story Climaxes/High Points: Tree toad is picked up by the Vingananee and thrown so high up in the sky that the Vingananee can't see him and when he lands and the Vingananee's head he knocks him out.

Special Chants/Phrases: 
I'm the Vingananee and I am hungry.
Give me your stew or I will eat you!!

Tree Toad's song: Ka wa wa wa waa! Ka wa wa wa waa!

Who is in Rabbits house?

A Masai tale, presented in the form of a play, in which the frog gets the job of getting a monster out of the rabbit's house after the leopard, elephant, and rhino bungle the job.

Bimwili & the Zimwi (Watch Youtube version here)

A folktale from Zanzibar.... The story tells of three sisters in a Swahili village who set out on a journey to the sea. The youngest sibling trails behind, finding a lovely shell. She creates a song about her shell that she soon is forced to sing for the village monster-- the Zimwi. The singer is captures and contains the young girl in a drum. This funny looking monster entertains neighboring villages with this "singing drum". Before she reunites with her family, she has to defeat this shape-shifting Zimwi who turns into a pumpkin patch. This is an exciting read, loaded with sound effects, for 2nd to 4th grade classrooms.

Bringing the Roan to the Kapiti Plain

The tale was discovered in Kenya, Africa more than seventy years ago by the famous anthropologist Sir Claud Hollis. Sir Claud camped near a Nandi village and learned the native language from two young boys. He learned riddles and proverbs from the Nandi children, and most of the folktales from the Chief Medicine Man. This tale reminded Sir Claud of a cumulative nursery rhyme he had loved as a boy in England, and also familiar to us “The House That Jack Built.” So he called the story “The Nandi House That Jack Built” and included it in his book The Nandi - Their Language and Folktales, published in 1909. Vera Aardema has brought the original story close to the English nursery rhyme by putting in a cumulative refrain and giving the tale the rhythm of “The House That Jack Built.”

Mufaros Daughter

This African tale from Zimbabwe evokes the Cinderella story in its portrayal of Mufaro's daughters, Manyara and Nyasha, who are summoned before a king looking for a suitable wife. The scheming, selfish Manyara plots to appear first at the palace, while her considerate, loving sister takes time on the journey to care for hungry and elderly people. Manyara's haste does not work to her benefit and eventually causes her undoing. The colorful and richly textured illustrations are breath-taking and help make this picture book a favorite among children and adults.

Mufaro was a happy man. Everyone agreed that his two daughters were very beautiful. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone — except Mufaro — knew that Manyara was selfish, badtempered, and spoiled.

When the king decided to take a wife and invited "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land" to appear before him, Mufaro declared proudly that only the king could choose between Nyasha and Manyara. Manyara, of course, didn't agree, and set out to make certain that she would be chosen.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

John Steptoe has created a memorable modem fable of pride going before a fall, in keeping with the moral of the folktale that was his inspiration. He has illustrated it with stunning paintings that glow with the beauty, warmth, and internal vision of the land and people of his ancestors.

Mufaro's two beautiful daughters, one bad-tempered, one kind and sweet, go before the king, who is choosing a wife.

An African villager named Mufaro had two daughters whom everyone agreed were beautiful. However, their dispositions were not alike: Manyara had a bad temper and was selfish (although not in front of Mufaro); Nyasha was always kind and considerate both to people and to animals. When Mufaro receives word that the Great King is inviting all of the most worthy and beautiful women to appear before him so that he might choose a wife, Mufaro decides that both of his daughters should go. Manyara, believing herself more worthy and beautiful than her sister, sets out alone so that she can be presented to the king before her sister. What happens to each girl along the way depends on her response to the strange people whom she encounters. This folktale shows the traditional qualities, characterizations, and predictability. 

It is distinguished, however, by its colorful ink and watercolor illustrations of the costumes, artifacts, flora, and fauna of the Zimbabwe region. The expressive drawings of people and events enhance the story and serve to strengthen readers' familiarity with traditional African culture. A magnificently illustrated book, filled with rich textures and vibrant color, and a story that will satisfy young romantics as well as those with a strong sense of justice. Helen E. Williams, University of Maryland, College Park

This Caldecott Honor book, inspired by a story collected from the people of Zimbabwe, is somewhat similar to the classic Cinderella fairy tale in that it contains sisters, one jealous of the other, and one royal invitation to all the girls in the kingdom. Yet this story offers much more because it contains important life lessons: "Pride goes before a fall" and "Treat others the way you would want to be treated" (The Golden Rule). The illustrations are absolutely breathtaking. Highly recommended!

Oh Kojo ! How could you!
Retelling of a humorous Ashanti folktale relating how a young man named Kojo finally gets the better of the tricky Anansi.

Half a Ball of Kenki
Lighthearted retelling of an Ashanti tale. Leopard, thinking himself better than Fly, dresses up in fancy garments and forces his companion to carry his bundle on their search for young maidens to marry. To Leopard's surprise, Fly is more successful with the young women than he is, so he takes angry measures against Fly, only to discover once again, that Fly is more popular still. The earthy, and culture-conscious illustrations, bring to life this engaging tale of frienship, envy, and getting what's coming to you. However, even though the illustrations dull and lack vivid hues. On the other hand, Aardema has taken a traditional African tale, and told it in a humorous way. Leopard is the arquetype of the self-centered individual, and Fly is the easy-going fellow whose unassuming charm attracts all the young maidens. A good choice to complement an African-American animal tales collection. Half-a-ball-of-Kenki: an Ashanti Tale Retold. Verna Aardema ; and with pictures by Diane Stanley Zuromskis. New York : F. Warne, c1979, 31 pp. Ages 5 to 8.

Classics

The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett.               Main Characters: Mary Lennox, Colin Craven and Dickon Sowerby Published: 1911 Summary The Secret Garden is about a 10 year old girl from India who is orphaned and goes to live in the lonely marshes of the United Kingdom with her uncle Lord Craven. There are all kinds of secrets hidden in the many rooms of Misselthwaite Manor. Mary uncovers a secret long buried in the rich soils of the abandoned expansive gardens.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.                                          Main Character: A handsome black horse who goes by many names. Black Beauty was his first name and then he went from job to job. Darkie, Black Auster, Jack, Blackie and Old Crony were his other names as he changed jobs. Published: 1877 Summary Black Beauty is about a handsome black horse and his journey from one owner to another. Drama seems to follow him where ever he goes. Some masters are kind and some are cruel, but along the way Black Beauty befriends a feisty untameable chestnut mare called Ginger.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte she published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell.                                                  Main Characters: Heathcliff and Catherine. Published: 1847 Summary Wuthering Heights is about the doomed love of Heathcliff and how he returns to his childhood home after becoming rich and successful and plots revenge on the two families he believes to have ruined his life.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Main Characters: Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy Published: 1813 Summary  Pride and Prejudice is about a 20 year old young woman called Elizabeth Bennett or Lizzy with 4 sisters living in 1813 who wishes to marry for love not just for fortune or social standing. Lizzy also gives her opinion very freely and often gets herself in trouble because of it. Two rich and handsome young men move into the mansion next door. Jane, Lizzy’s elder sister, falls instantly in love with Mr Bingley and vice versa. Mr Darcy is a friend of Mr Bingley’s and Lizzy in the beginning detests him because of his haughty and arrogant manner. But she gradually falls in love with him.

Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott. Main Characters: Jo, Margaret, Beth and Amy. Published: 1868 Summary Little Woman is about 4 sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. The Little Woman story is about the different paths that the sisters take. It is over 15 years of their lives and how they become adults. It also includes their childhood adventures and the sorrows of their father losing his wealth and then going to war and the struggles of Mrs March trying to keep her family happy and fed and coping with Beth’s death.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Main Characters: Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Published: 1884 Summary The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is set in St Petersburg, Missouri it is a kind of a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. At the end of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Huckleberry Finn was adopted by a widow who was kind. In this story Huck doesn’t like his new life of being clean, having to use manners, going to church and school. He decides to persevere though because he wants to be a part of Tom Sawyers gang but to do that he has to be “respectable” which means being clean, going to church and school . Everything is fine until his alcoholic father comes back into town and demands that Huck gives him his money. He hangs round for several months and then kidnaps Huck and takes him to a cabin across the river from St Petersburg. Whenever his dad goes out he locks the door so it’s impossible to escape but by faking his own death he manages to get out. He hides on Jackson’s Island in the middle of the Mississippi River. He discovers an escaped slave hiding out. It gets too risky to stay on the island so they leave on a raft but they get separated Huck ends up on a farm with a kind family who are in a bitter feud with a neighbouring family. One of the daughters elopes with a son from the family and this causes a massive gunfight in which most of the families are killed. When Jim is freed due to a will Huck has had enough of civilisation and is going out West.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Main Characters: Sydney Carton, Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette.  Published: 1859 Summary A Tale of Two Cities a book based over the time frame of 4 years. The first year (1775) is about a girl called Lucie Manette who thought she was an orphan but finds out her father is still alive and how she finds her father with the help of a man called Jarvis Lorry. She finds him in Paris, France only to discover that he has been driven mad by 18 years locked up under protection, he spends his time making shoes. Jarvis assures Lucie that her love will help her father get better. It is now the year 1780 this part of the book is about how he has been accused of treason against the English Crown. A pompous lawyer is pleading his case but not actually helping, Charles’ case doesn’t improve until the pompous lawyer’s colleague Sydney Carton, who is an alcoholic, helps him that his case improves. Sydney clinches the argument by pointing out that he himself looks similar to Charles so it could have been anyone that was the spy that the authorities spotted. Lucie and Dr Manette watch the court case and she gives her sympathy to Charles. Sydney resents Charles because he reminds him of what he could have been. In France Charles’ uncle the Marquis Eyremonde runs down a poor child with his carriage he shows no regret but instead curses all the peasants and rushes home to his large country estate where he waits for his nephew to arrive from England. Arriving later that night Charles curses his uncle and the French aristocracy for the way they treat the poor. He renounces any relation to Eyremonde and announces his leaving to return to England. That night the Marquis was murdered the murderer left a note signed “Jacques” which is the nickname taken by the French Revolutionaries. A year passes and Charles asks for Lucie Manette’s hand in marriage, Sydney Carton also pledges his love to Lucie admitting that his life is worthless but that she helped him dream of a better, more valuable existence. On the night of his daughter’s wedding day Dr Manette relapses into his old habit of making shoes, after 9 days he regains control over his mind and joins the newlyweds on their honeymoon. Sydney Carton then pays Charles a visit and asks for his friendship and Charles assures Sydney he’s always welcome in his and Lucie’s home. It’s now 1789 and the peasants storm the Bastille and the French Revolution begins, the revolutionaries murder aristocrats in the streets and Gabelle a man in charge of the Marquis of Eyremonde estate is imprisoned. Three years later he writes a letter to Charles and asks him to rescue him. Despite the danger Charles left immediately for France. As soon as Charles arrives in Paris the French Revolutionaries arrest him as an emigrant, Lucie and Dr Manette make their way to Paris in the hope of saving him. Charles remains in prison for a year and three months before receiving a trial, in order to help free him Dr Manette uses his influence with the revolutionaries. Charles is released only to be arrested again that night. Sydney arrives in Paris to rescue Charles and gets the help of Miss Pross’ brother; Miss Pross is the servant of Lucie. At Charles trial the prosecutor produces a letter explaining the cause of Dr Manette’s imprisonment, years ago Charles’ father and uncle enlisted his medical help they asked him to tend to a woman one of them had raped and her brother who had been fatally stabbed. Fearing that Dr Manette might get them in trouble with the law they had him arrested. When hearing this story the judge condemns Charles to death for his ancestor’s crimes. That night Sydney hears the prosecutor plotting to have Lucie and her daughter executed as well, the prosecutor turns out to be the living sibling of the man and woman in the story. Sydney arranges for the immediate departure for the Manette’s and tricks Charles into changing clothes with him and then drugs him so he can get away with his family. Sydney Carton then takes the place of Charles and the next morning is killed. Sydney died knowing that he had finally done something worthwhile in his life.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.                         Main Characters: Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. Published: 1811 Summary   Sense and Sensibility is set in Southwest England, London and Kent between 1792 and 1797. It’s about the two Dashwood sisters Elinor and Marianne. The novel follows them to their new home in a cottage in a distant relative’s property where they experience love, romance and heartbreak. Jane Austen describes Marianne as a sweet lady with intelligence, musical talent, frankness and the capacity to love deeply. For these reasons some readers find Marianne’s marriage to Colonel Brandon an unsatisfactory ending, but Jane Austen’s intention was not to debate the superior value of either sense or sensibility in good judgement but rather to demonstrate that both are equally important but must be applied with good balance to one another.

Emma by Jane Austen. Main Characters: George Knightley, Emma Woodhouse and Harriet Smith. Published: 1815 Summary  Emma is about a girl called Emma Woodhouse and how she likes to meddle in other peoples love life’s, thinking that she herself will never marry. This story is about love and mistakes. Emma try’s to set her friend Harriet up with Mr Elton but only succeeds in humiliating her. Harriet then falls in love with Mr Knightley and Emma expects him to proclaim his love for Harriet but instead h proclaims his love for Emma. The story concludes with Harriet marrying Mr Robin Martin a farmer on the estate, where as Emma herself marries Mr Knightley.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.                        Main Characters: Ebenezer Scrooge and Ghost of Christmas Past.                                                                     Published: 1843 Summary A Christmas Carol is about a miser called Ebenezer Scrooge and how the ghost of his partner, Jacob Marley, comes to visit him warning him to change his miserly ways or he will be condemned to the same fate, to wander the Earth weighed down with chains. Jacob also tells Ebenezer three spirits will visit him during the next three nights, when Jacob disappears Ebenezer falls into a deep sleep. He wakes moments before the Ghost of Christmas Past arrives, the spirit takes him on a journey into the past to previous Christmases. Invisible to those he watches he visits his childhood days, his apprenticeship days and then his engagement to Belle a woman who left him because of his greed for money made him unable to love her. Ebenezer was deeply moved and shed tears of regret before the ghost returned him to his bed. The Ghost of Christmas Present takes Ebenezer through London to unveil Christmas as it would happen that year. He discovers the Cratchit family and their miniature Christmas feast and the crippled son Tiny Tim. The ghost then shows Ebenezer his nephews Christmas party, he finds it delightful. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come leads him through a sequence of mysterious scenes relating to an unnamed man’s recent death. He sees businessmen discussing the dead man’s riches and a poor couple expressing relief at the death of their unforgiving landlord. Ebenezer is shocked to find out the dead man is none other than himself, he begs the spirit to change his fate and promises to change his ways and he suddenly finds himself back in bed. Ebenezer then went out and gave the Cratchits a huge turkey, went to the Christmas party and treated Tiny Tim like his own son.