folk-tale

folk-tale

A grandmother reads a folk-tale to her grandchildren.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A traditional story: "folk-tale" refers to a story that originates in the oral tradition of a people or culture, typically passed down through generations before being written down. These stories often involve legendary characters, magical events, or moral lessons.
    • A narrative of popular origin: It can also denote any tale that reflects the beliefs, customs, or values of a specific community, often anonymous in authorship.
Usage Examples
  • (A traditional story shared orally within a family or community.)
  • (A narrative that provides a cultural explanation for observable events.)
  • (A traditional narrative used for academic analysis.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to collect folk-tales": to gather and record traditional stories from a culture, often for preservation.

    • The anthropologist spent years collecting folk-tales from remote villages in the Andes. (She gathered oral narratives to document them.)

  • "folk-tale motif": a recurring element or theme common in folk-tales across different cultures.

    • The motif of a magical helper is a common folk-tale motif in European stories. (A repeated story element.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Folklore (n): the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through generations.

    • The folklore of the region includes songs, dances, and folk-tales. (The broader body of cultural traditions.)

  • Folklorist (n): a person who studies or collects folklore.

    • The folklorist published a book of folk-tales from the Appalachian Mountains. (A scholar of traditional narratives.)
Synonyms
  • Fairy tale: a folk-tale involving magical or fantastical elements (often for children).
  • Legend: a traditional story sometimes based on historical events or figures, but with exaggerated or supernatural elements.
  • Myth: a traditional story that explains origins, natural phenomena, or cultural practices, often involving gods or heroes.
Related Idioms
  • "Old wives' tale": a traditional belief or superstition, often not scientifically true, similar in nature to a folk-tale.
    • She dismissed the advice as an old wives' tale, but it was actually a folk-tale passed down for centuries. (A superstitious narrative.)