Foalktales Essay, Research Paper

A folktale is a general term for any of numerous varieties of traditional

narrative. The telling of stories appears to be a cultural and universal tradition,

common to primitive and complex societies alike. Folktales are demonstrably

similar from culture to culture, and comparative studies of themes and narrative

techniques have been successful in showing these relationships. Fairy tales are

entirely fictional and often begin with such formulas as ?Once upon a time .

Which is not the case in most folktales which useally express something common

to that culture. Folktales are stories that give people a means for sharing their

culture, history and values.And

so was the case in ?Mother to Son? by Langston Hughes. Hughes discussed

problems common to people of color from his culture . One of the most powerful

tools used by hughes is imagery . Hughes uses strong imagery to get a clear

picture across to the reader. As does he uses Irony and metaphors such ass ? Life

for me aint been no crystal stair Its had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn

up. HUghes work can be described as a folktale. He writes exactly to fit the

definition of the word folktale. And the same formula is used my many writers

from different cultures