Folktales, Fables, and Myths From Around the World

Traditional stories passed down through generations come in several kinds.

Long before books were printed, people told stories aloud and passed them down for generations. These traditional tales are still fun to read. Folktales are stories from a culture's oral tradition, often featuring clever heroes, tricksters, or ordinary people outwitting the powerful. Fables are short stories, usually with animal characters, that end with a moral, a lesson stated directly.

Myths are ancient stories that explain how the world, nature, or people came to be, often involving gods or heroes. Many cultures tell similar stories in their own ways; there are versions of a Cinderella-style tale in many parts of the world. For example, a fable might go: 'A thirsty crow found a pitcher with only a little water at the bottom.

It dropped in pebbles, one by one, until the water rose high enough to drink. ' Moral: little by little, problems can be solved.

• 1Folktales come from oral storytelling traditions.
• 2Fables are short and end with a moral.
• 3Myths explain how the world or nature came to be.