Story Telling Essay, Research Paper

Storytelling is as old as speech. Once upon a time, everyone was a

storyteller.

To fight boredom and keep themselves company, these early storytellers

chanted

as they worked, telling the story of what they were doing. Then "I"

stories

became narratives involving other people and the elements, and storytellers

told

tales of heros, myths, and legends. The art of storytelling evolved naturally

because some people preferred telling tales and other preferred listening to

them.

As society developed, people wanted to keep a historical account of events.

The

storyteller occupied an honoured position and his role was very important.

Tribes competed to see who could tell the best stories, which led to

exaggerated

imaginary tales of elaborate heroic feats. Gradually, some stories featured

animals to satirize tribal events. By using animals, storytellers could make

fun

of kings and chieftans without fear of retribution.

The Egyptians were the first to write down their stories. The Romans were

good

at spreading stories, as were the gypsies whose nomadic life enabled them to

carry tales far and wide. Royalty hired storytellers or troubadours who told

tales of court scandals or heroic accomplishments, accompanying themselves on

musical instruments. The troubadour gradually surrounded himself with a

retinue

of tumblers, pages and buffoons who helped him tell the story in an

entertaining

way. Troubadours were succeeded by minstrals and mummers who travelled from

town

to town making their livelihood by entertaining people with their

storytelling

performances.

Today, the art of storytelling continues as we tell stories to children to

communicate with them, entertain them, and pass on information. Anyone can

read

a story but, when a story is told, children feel a bond between the teller

and

themselves. In a society where parents lead busy lives and children are

entertained by the impersonal communication media of films and television,

storytelling can be an invaluable part of your program. An experience shared

between teller and listener, it helps children develop the skills of

listening

and encourages them to visualize the story in their imaginations – to relax

and

fantasize safely.

What kinds of stories to Beaver-aged boys like ? They don’t care for

instructional stories that sermonize. They do enjoy stories such as ‘Chicken

Little’ or ‘The Little Red Hen’ in which animals or objects have feelings,

even

when they are "lesson" stories.

Children believe in magic. A kiss can transform the ugly frog into a handsome

prince. They also recognize justice and injustice, crime and punishment. For

young boys, it is important for stories to convey magic and fantasy. Like

‘The

Wizard of Oz’ or ‘Aladdin and his Magic Lamp’, they can be as far-fetched as

the

imagination will take them, but they also need to have a sense of real life

and

fair play.

Tips for the Storyteller

There are certain steps that storytellers follow. They select a story

appropriate to the occasion, interests, and age of the audience, commit it to

memory, prepare the audience by sitting them in a circle, and begin the tale.

Professional storytellers generally memorize seven stories a year and have a

repertoire of about 20 stories handy at all times.

If you are an inexperienced storyteller, look for short stories with

repetitive

phrases. Choose tales that you like because Beavers can sense when you aren’t

keen on what you’re telling. You want stories that build up suspence to a

good

climax, preferably tales where characters speak for themselves rather than

straight narratives. Length is important – never more than 20 minutes for

Beaver-aged boys. Leave them wanting more. Generally, children’s magazines

are

not a good source of stories because the material is meant to be read by the

child, not out loud.

When you’ve chosen the story, you need to memorize it. It will take a few

hours

spread over time. First, read it silently and try to see the story in your

mind’s eye by visualizing it as a series of pictures. Then learn it by

reading

it aloud repeatedly, enjoying the words and the sound of the phrases. Think

about words that may be new or unfamiliar to your audience and incorporate

their

meanings into the story so that you won’t need to interrupt it during the

telling to explain.

Time yourself when you read the story aloud. After you have memorized it,

time

yourself again. If you use less time, you are either telling it too fast or

skipping parts. If it takes much longer, you are telling the story too

slowly.

Tell your story to anyone who will listen. Before going to bed, read it aloud

again. If you can, tape or videotape yourself telling the story.

Once you’ve memorized the story, you are ready to tell it. These points will

help you do it more effectively. Smile and make eye contact with your

listeners.

Vary the pitch of your voice and use facial expressions and hand spirit of

the

story – unless you do, don’t tell it. In choosing stories it is a good idea

to

select a theme for the hour, week, etc. (Honesty, courtesy, loyalty, safety).

Be sure to read the story out loud first because some are better read than

told.

Don’t be afraid to use high and low tones to impersonate characters.

Be sure of your sequence of events; then practise out loud, in front of a

mirror

if possible, until you are used to the sound of your own voice and gestures.

These gestures should be very simple – if used at all.

Be sure your facial expression interprets the mood of the story. Your eyes

are

most important – use them.

Atmosphere can make or break a storytelling period. Be sure it is quiet,

secluded, and that there will be no interruptions once the story begins.

Try some of the tricks used by experienced storytellers – a "story

hat", which

goes on when the story begins and comes off when it ends, or a mascot such as

a

teddy bear, doll or hand puppet to tell the story to or take the part of a

character. This is a simple device for taking your mind off the listening

audience if you are a little shy.

And the opening sentence! Don’t always say "Once upon a time…"

Why not try:

"Once, in the long, long ago and very far away…"

"On the very highest mountain in the whole world lived an old

man…"

"Those were the days when mighty beasts roamed the jungle…"