Huntoon,+Caroline+S.

__** Unfamiliar Genre Project Proposal **__

//Fable, Folktale, Myth, or Fairytale//
 * I've always been interested in storytelling as a performance, but I have only ever performed stories or directed performances of stories that are already written. I would be interested in trying to write a fable, folktale, or fairytale of my own. Potentially this project could embrace and play with the typical elements in this kinds of stories.
 * This is an expansive genre (which is true of most genre). Oftentimes, fables, folktales, and fairytales are appropriate for children (though they were not always written for them). Additionally, the genre often has an allegorical quality that allows the characters and situations to stand in for other characters and situations. Also, these types of stories often have a moral or message.

**__ Tell Me A Story: A User's Guide to Fables, Folktales, Myths, and Fairytales __**

Storytelling is a dynamic art form that allows a performer to present a story to an audience. These stories can come in a variety of "forms" including fables, folktales, myths, and fairytales. (Please Note: These definitions are by no means complete or exclusive – they are meant to give a general idea about the different forms within the genre.)
 * //Fable//: A brief story told in prose or verse that teaches a moral or lesson about how to succeed in life.
 * //Folktale//: A story that often has no known author and is passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. These stories are often culturally based.
 * //Myth:// A story that explains something about the world (why something is the way it is). Often, these stories involve gods or super-natural beings.
 * //Fairytale:// A fanciful story that is intended for children and often takes place in an imaginary world. Sometimes these stories include magical creatures and beings.

For the purposes of this users guide, I am going to now focus on how to create a myth. The following are a list of steps to help guide an individual to get started in creating their own myth.

//1. Pick a natural phenomenon that you want to write about.// Remember, a myth is a story that explains something about the world. It is often helpful to pick a phenomenon that relates to your personal life.

//2. Observe carefully.// The best stories are created by people who really know the phenomenon that they are depicting – so, find out as much as you can about the natural phenomenon that you have chosen. Also, consider going to the library and searching the internet for stories that already explore the phenomenon that you are going to write about.

//3. Write down the facts about the phenomenon.// Keep a record of your findings. In some ways, writing a myth is about being a reporter in addition to being a storyteller.

//4. Write down the key words that you come across in your research.// Make a list of the words that are associated with your phenomenon. As you are writing these words down, think about the images behind them – those images will serve as the basis of your myth.

//5. Ask WHAT IF…?// Now it’s time to stop thinking about the actual world and enter the world of your myth – it’s time for brainstorming! You can use the question “What if…?” to help you create a story that explains why the natural phenomenon occurs.

As you begin to write your myth, it will help to keep in mind that there are some distinct characteristics that virtually all good stories include:
 * A single, clearly defined theme
 * A well developed plot
 * Vivid word pictures, pleasing sounds and rhythms
 * Repetition (and three is often the "magic" number)
 * Ability to translate to an oral telling (meaning that the story can be reduced to something simple that a storyteller could remember)
 * Extreme yet believable characterization
 * Faithful to the source material
 * Dramatic appeal
 * Appropriateness for the listeners (or audience)


 * __Annotated Bibliography__**

Ashliman, D.L. //Folklore and Mythology Electronic Texts//. University of Pittsburgh: 2010. Web. 10 October 2010. 
 * This site contains an expansive listing of online texts within the storytelling genre. The site also offers a series of helpful links to other internet resources about storytelling.

D'Aulaire, Ingri. //D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths//. New York: Random House, 1962. Print.
 * This is the book of Greek myths that I grew up reading. It’s pages contain many of the major stories that make up Greek mythology.

Greene, Ellin. //Storytelling: Art and Technique//. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited, 1996. Print.
 * While this book has a broad focus on the performance aspects of storytelling, it does have a very helpful section on “Selection.” It looks at ideas like “What makes a story tellable?”

McWilliams, Barry. //Effective Storytelling: A Manual for Beginners//. 1998. Web. 10 October 2010. 
 * This website offer basic instructions about storytelling and what kinds of stories work best in performance. The entire website functions as a manual that is easy to understand and follow.

Shepard, Aaron. //Aaron’s World of Stories//. Web. 10 October 2010. 
 * A selection of folktales, fairy tales, tall tales, myths, legends, magical tales, and sacred stories, plus original fables, humor, fantasy, and historical fiction from award-winning author Aaron Shepard.

**__An Example of a Myth__**

//The Best Animal on the Island// by Caroline Huntoon