Folktales, Fairytales, Legends, and Fables
Grade 7th Grade · ELA · 45 min
What's Included
Learning Objective
I can distinguish between folktales, fairytales, legends, and fables based on their characteristics.
Reading Passage
Types of Stories
Stories come in many forms. Folktales, fairytales, legends, and fables are all types of stories passed down through time. Each has its own special features.
Folktales are stories that come from the people. They often teach a lesson or explain how something came to be. They are not always true, but they show what a group of people believe or value. Fairytales are similar to folktales, but they often have magic. They have good characters and bad characters. Fairytales almost always have a happy ending.
Legends are stories about people or events from the past. They may be based on real people or events, but the stories are often exaggerated. This means that the story is told as if it is true, but it is not. Fables are short stories that teach a lesson. They often use animals as characters. These animals act like people. The lesson of a fable is called a moral. The moral is usually stated at the end of the story.
Knowing the features of each type of story helps us understand and enjoy them more. We can learn about different cultures, values, and lessons from these stories.
Guided Notes
3 key concepts
- 1
Folktales, fairytales, legends, and fables are types of stories that have been passed down through time.
- 2
Folktales come from the people and often teach a lesson, while fairytales often include magic and have a happy ending.
- 3
Fables are short stories that teach a lesson or moral, and they often use animals as characters.
Practice Questions
7 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer
Exit Ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Read the story below and identify whether it is a folktale, fairytale, legend, or fable. Explain your answer. A long time ago, a clever rabbit tricked a strong bear into falling into a pit. The rabbit then escaped, teaching the bear a lesson about underestimating smaller creatures. The moral of the story is: 'Brains are more powerful than brawn.'”
Complete Lesson Package
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