EDU292 - The Art of Storytelling

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” - Phillip Pullman

This guide will help you find folk tales, myths and legends.  Included are references to both print and online resources. Hopefully, these tools will help you get started, but if you are unable to find what you need, please reach out to a librarian.

When looking for a folktale, myth or legend, keep in mind the distinctions between each type of story. Legends are stories that are believed to have factual elements in them (for example, one of the characters really lived or the location exists).  If the story you are analyzing does not fit that criteria, be sure to label it as a folk tale. Folk tales, fairy tales, legends and myths are retellings of traditional stories that have been shared orally for many generations.  It's best to avoid those that have been written by a particular author or those written by Disney or other commercial adaptations. Often they are inaccurate representations of those tales.