Tall Tales

 

Introduction:

Tall tales is a special type of fictional story.  In this type of story there are three basic components.  The main character is usually extraordinarily large or accomplished a large task. The main character’s abilities are usually exaggerated or bigger than life.  The last characteristic of this type of story is that a problem in the story is usually accomplished in a unique way.

 

Information:

After reading several articles one can begin to recognize how these types of stories are similar.  For this activity read two tall tales paying special attention to the main characters.  Do these main characters follow the pattern of a tall tale?  Are these characters larger than live? Do they solve the story’s problem in an unusual way?

 

Activity:

Read first a famous tall tale called Paul Bunyan.  As you are reading think about the main character and how he solves problems.  This story is located at www.paulbunyantrail.com/talltale.html.   Next read a different tall tale.  This tall tale’s main character is Pecos Bill.  Read this tall tale.  While reading this tale think about how the two characters are alike and how they differ.  The site for Pecos Bill’s tall tale is

www.nsc.ru/folk/usa/pecosbill.htm.

 

When the stories have been read go to www.eduplace.com/rdg/hme/k_5/graphorg/pdf/venn.pdf.  This site will have a venn diagram.  Print out the venn diagram.  Label the one circle Pecos Bill.  In the first circle describe Pecos Bill.  What did he look like?  What special traits did he have? Label the second circle Paul Bunyan.  In this circle describe Paul Bunyan.  What traits or characteristics did he have?  What made Paul Bunyan special?  In the middle of these two circles describe any traits the two characters had in common.