ERIC Identifier: ED366985
Publication Date: 1994-00-00
Author: Smith, Carl B.
Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on
Reading English and Communication Bloomington IN.
Helping Children Understand Literary Genres. ERIC Digest.
Our culture no longer views reading literature as simply its primary means
for escape and adventure. It is now recognized that there is value in reading
poems, plays, fiction, and humorous pieces, whether for enjoyment or for
purposes of bibliotherapy (See Aiex, 1993). Literature should be an important
part of any classroom reading program. This digest focuses on the different
types of literature--literary genres--and particularly on the folktale.
The analysis of different types of literature promotes cognitive development
because it gives students an opportunity to apply similar skills and strategies,
such as identifying themes discussed in one genre--fiction, for example--to
other genres like poetry, reports, descriptive pieces, and plays (Smith, 1991).
The major intellectual function that each
literary genre provides can be examined in terms of schema theory. Schema
theorists assume that concepts are organized in our minds in groups that have an
understandable network, at least understandable to the individual (Bartlett,
If we have no established schema for the content, structure, or function of a
play, then we may be unable to apply thinking skills to compare characters and
predict conclusions. We probably learned those skills in the context of reading
short stories, but we may not recognize the opportunity to apply those same
thinking skills when reading a play. Therefore each type of literature presented
to a young reader serves two important functions: to develop a schema for the
literary genre and to encourage the application of thinking skills in a variety
of literary engagements (Smith, 1991).
LITERATURE'S EFFECT ON CLASSROOM WRITING
In today's schools
where writing is used as a means to promote clear thinking, it appears that
reading a variety of literary genres has a related positive effect on writing.
In a study of second graders, Eckhoff (1983) examined their writing after one
group read a highly simplified textbook and another group read a text containing
many literary forms. The children's compositions reflected the writing models in
their texts. Students exposed regularly to various literary forms seemed better
able to use different literary forms in their own writing. Eckhoff concluded
that the students' writing was affected by their reading models and recommended
that teachers provide students with a variety of literary models.
One genre that might be effective as a beginning
point, and is particularly enjoyable for children, is folktales. Folktales often
start with real people, good guys and bad guys. As the exploits and the events
of these people are told and retold, usually the original story is modified to
make it more interesting or more humorous. That's the reason that many folktales
present larger-than-life characters and very unusual happenings. As people told
these tales around the fireside and in local cafes and restaurants, they became
more eye-popping or side-splitting to impress the listening audience.
As the word "folktales" suggests, these are tales told by common people, not
"litterateurs." They are spoken stories, not written ones. Now, of course, we
may read folktales because they are collected in books, but their language
remains folksy, talkable, perhaps regional. "Lake Wobegon Days" by Garrison
Keillor is an example of a collection of regional tales whose appeal includes
the local dialect of the Minnesotan Norwegian farmer. Most of the tales in the
book were first told before an audience as part of Keillor's radio broadcasts on
the "Prairie Home Companion." Most modern-day folktales now originate on radio
Though the means of telling stories has shifted from family and neighborhood
storytellers to radio and TV, the source of folktales remains constant--that is,
the antics and the heroics of everyday life. The bizarre, frightening world of
Charles Manson or the uplifting story of teacher Jaime Escalante are the stuff
of folktales, now recounted on television for the entire world to see and hear.
These two examples are typical of the purpose of many folktales, which is to
caution or to motivate. Though many folktales are humorous accounts of the
foibles of local people (for example, Randolph's "Pissin' in the Snow"), many
were told to give children examples to ponder as they formed their moral
UNIVERSALITY OF FOLKTALES
From the earliest times in
America we have folktales that remind us of virtues and vices through the
adventure of characters in our history. Most of us remember the "Courtship of
Miles Standish," a story not unlike that of Edmond Rostand's French classic,
Cyrano de Bergerac. Miles Standish was a middle-aged commander of the Plymouth
Colony's small guard. Not feeling articulate enough to speak for himself, he
sent a young, handsome friend, John Alden, in his stead, to speak of love to
Priscilla Mullins. As it happens, Alden was also in love with the beautiful
Priscilla. After John Alden's ardent speech in favor of his friend Miles
Standish, Priscilla supposedly said: "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?" And guess who Priscilla married?
There are all kinds of practical lessons to be learned from the story of the
courtship of Miles Standish. Miles lost because he did not speak for himself;
John showed friendship, but might have lost his beloved had she not been bold
enough to call the tune; Priscilla got the love she wanted because she had the
wit and the courage to speak up.
Folktales are common in all countries, universal in nature. Since a folktale
has been told by many storytellers, there are versions or variations for every
country. Because it has been handed down through the ages, its origin is lost.
"Cinderella" is perhaps the most universal of all folktales or fairy
tales--nearly 1,000 versions have been documented (Mueller, 1984). English
versions of many foreign tales are usually available in the school library and
the public library.
As teachers, we want our students to realize that they can satisfy all kinds
of emotional and intellectual needs through literature (Napier and Ali, 1992).
There is a type of literature for every need, so to speak. Folktales provide a
fairly clear and uncomplicated example of a type of literature. Just by reading
several sample folktales and by analyzing their characteristics in discussions,
even young children can arrive at a reasonable list of the characteristics of
the folktale: it (1) involves real people or a typical situation; (2) uses
unusual occurrences or humor to resolve an issue; (3) uses common spoken
language; or (4) makes a point about life.
Through the use of a simple genre like the folktale, we can help children
understand that there are different types of literature. The various types can
be defined by looking at examples and then discussing the characteristics noted.
At least in broad sweeps, students can begin to distinguish folktales, fairy
tales, short realistic fiction, fantasy fiction, and nonfiction that ranges from
personal essays to descriptions, analyses, explanations, humor, and so on.
A RANGE OF GENRES FOR STUDENTS
It is not necessary for
children to define every piece of literature that they read, though the
elementary school curriculum certainly should provide a wide range of genres.
The range of types assures us not only of exposing students to the scope of
materials available to them, but also of offering them the opportunity to feel
the experiences of life through fantasy, poetry, and analysis.
Gradually, across the years in school, the array and the types of literature
will unfold. Gradually, we hope, students will want to satisfy many of their
emotional and intellectual needs through books--in all their variations.
Gradually through the curriculum planning for the elementary and secondary
schools, students will develop a knowledge of the many types of literature
available to them for their various needs. As one scholar has pointed out: "In
literary classrooms a variety of literature is available and shared. Picture
books, folktales, chapter books, poetry, information books, and plays belong in
every classroom, and children in literary classrooms have opportunities to read
and respond to each genre" (Hade, 1991).
Aiex, Nola Kortner (1993). Bibliotherapy. ERIC
Digest. Bloomington, IN: ERIC Clearinghouse on Reading, English, and
Communication Skills. [ED 357 333]
Bartlett, F. C. (1932). Remembering. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University
Eckhoff, Barbara (1983). "How Reading Affects Children's Writing." Language
Arts, 60(5), 607-16. [EJ 280 834]
Hade, Daniel D. (1991). "Being Literary in a Literature-Based Classroom."
Children's Literature in Education, 22(1),1-17. [EJ 425 323]
Mueller, Marie R. Lindsay (1984). "The Universality of the Folktale with
Examples from Days of Old." Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Western
Regional Conference of the International Reading Association. [ED 246 467]
Napier, Georgia, and Munir Ali (1992). "An Analysis of the Need Fulfillment
Imagery in Children's Folk Tales." Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the
Mid-South Educational Research Association. [ED 354 529]
Smith, Carl B. (1991). "The Role of Different Literary Genres." Reading
Teacher, 44(6), 440-41. [EJ 421 147]