Long folktales stories often have complex plots. They are not simple, one - dimensional tales. For instance, in 'The Odyssey', Odysseus' journey is full of various challenges, from facing mythical creatures to dealing with the wrath of the gods.
They usually carry moral lessons. Take 'Aesop's Fables' as an example. These long - form fables teach things like the value of hard work in 'The Ant and the Grasshopper' or the danger of being too greedy as in 'The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs'. The moral is an important part that has made these folktales endure over time.
They are usually concise. For example, they can be told in just a few minutes.
The Grimm's Fairy Tales also have long folktale stories. For example, 'Hansel and Gretel' is a well - known one. It tells the story of two children who are abandoned in the forest by their parents and encounter a wicked witch in a house made of gingerbread. It's a story that has been passed down for generations and has various interpretations, like the importance of family and the danger of strangers.
There is also a Marathi folktale about a kind - hearted king who always put his people first. His story shows how a good ruler should be, with kindness, justice and wisdom. This folktale has been passed down to inspire generations about good leadership and moral values.
The moral lessons are a very interesting aspect. For example, many long Indian folktales teach about the importance of honesty and hard work. In the story of the hare and the tortoise, the slow - moving tortoise wins because of its consistent effort.
Long stories often have complex plots. They usually involve multiple characters with different motives and personalities. For example, in 'A Tale of Two Cities', there are many characters like Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay, and the plot weaves through the French Revolution. Long stories also tend to cover a wide range of themes. They can explore love, death, power, and morality all in one. Additionally, they may span different locations and time periods, adding to their richness.
Another excellent folktale is 'The Three Little Pigs'. Three pigs build their houses of different materials. The two who build with straw and sticks have their houses blown down by the big bad wolf, while the one who builds with bricks survives. It shows the importance of hard work and planning.
Folktales are oral legends that spread among the people. The stories usually do not contain any scientific or historical facts, but are more of an expression of spiritual culture and a form of entertainment. There are many types of folktales, such as myths, legends, fairy tales, fables, jokes, etc. Some of these stories may have been adapted into movies, television dramas, novels, and other literary works. The origin of folktales is very wide. People from different regions, different ethnic groups, and different cultural backgrounds have their own traditional stories. These stories were usually passed down by word of mouth, and after a long period of accumulation and word of mouth, they gradually evolved into unique folk stories. Folk stories were not only a form of entertainment, but also a way of cultural inheritance and expression. They can help people better understand history, culture, tradition, folk customs and other aspects of knowledge, and can also promote communication between people, enhance national pride and cohesion.
They are concise. They usually have a single main plot or idea.
One characteristic is that they tend to have a moral or lesson at the end. Such as in Aesop's Fables. Each fable is relatively long in the sense that it has a detailed story leading up to the moral. For instance, the fable of 'The Ant and the Grasshopper' where the ant worked hard all summer while the grasshopper played. When winter came, the ant was well - prepared and the grasshopper suffered. It imparts the wisdom of hard work and planning ahead.
Long fantasy stories often have complex world - building. They create entire new worlds with their own rules, cultures, and histories. For example, in 'The Lord of the Rings', Tolkien built Middle - earth with different races like hobbits, elves, and dwarves, each having their own languages and traditions. Another characteristic is a large cast of characters. These stories can have many characters with different personalities and motives, which makes the plot more intricate. Also, they usually have an overarching quest or conflict that drives the story forward, like in 'A Song of Ice and Fire' where the fight for the Iron Throne is a central conflict.