- Formulaic language.
- Once upon a time… /they lived happily ever after…
- Usually starts with the same beginning and ending.
- Growing up/from child to adult.
- Usually we follow a child who has a lot of challenges and in the end meets his or hers destiny that was meant to be. (Home out home)
- Flat or stereotype characters.
- Rich/poor. Prince, princess. Names.
- The old woman, the poor man.
- Animals can have human features.
- 3, 7 or 12 tests.
- 3 magical characters. (Sleeping beauty – 3 fairies, Snow white – 7 dwarfs)
- Helpers (fairy godmother, side character)
- Opponents (witch, ogre, evil stepmother, dragon)
- Magic gifts (dress and pumpkin from Cinderella, the cat from Puss in boots)
- Single plot, no side stories.
- Unknown time and place.
- “Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…”
- Ordinary folk tales
- Jocular tales
Example: Funny stories
- Animal tales and fables
Example: The Fall
- Literary folk tales
- Urban/modern legends
Example: Modern folk tales that uses a lot of fear
Example: Alice in wonderland
- Interpreted sexually.
- Interpreted spiritually.
- Interpret the author’s life in the text, but never mentioned.
- Reading and analyzing without knowing text or author.