A scary folktale is 'La Llorona'. It is about a weeping woman who lost her children and now roams near rivers and lakes, crying for her lost ones. Legend has it that if you hear her cries, it's a bad omen. People are afraid to be near the water at night because of her. Also, 'The Red Shoes' is a bit spooky. A girl gets a pair of red shoes that she can't stop dancing in, and they bring her misfortune until she has a rather tragic end.
The 'Baba Yaga' is a well - known scary folktale. Baba Yaga is a witch who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs. She often kidnaps children or tests those who come to her. Her appearance is quite terrifying with her long nose and iron teeth. Then there's 'The Girl with No Hands'. A poor girl is mutilated by the devil but through her purity and faith, she overcomes many difficulties and finally gets justice. It's a story full of horror and also a message of hope against great evil.
Another great one is 'Cinderella'. Cinderella is a kind - hearted girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. But with the help of her fairy godmother, she gets to go to the ball, meets the prince, and eventually lives happily ever after. It's a story full of magic and hope for kids.
Well, 'Little Red Riding Hood' is a well - known old folktales story. A young girl in a red hood goes to visit her grandmother in the woods but meets a sly wolf along the way. There's also 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. Jack trades his family's cow for magic beans, which grow into a giant beanstalk leading to a world above the clouds where he has adventures with a giant.
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.
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 are usually concise. For example, they can be told in just a few minutes.
One of the popular Japanese folktales is 'Momotaro'. It is about a boy named Momotaro who was born from a large peach. He goes on an adventure with his animal friends to defeat the demons on an island.
One famous Algerian folktale is 'The Magic Carpet.' It tells the story of a young boy who discovers a magic carpet that takes him on adventures across the Algerian landscape. Another is 'The Golden Bird,' which has elements of magic and quests. There's also 'The Clever Girl,' which shows the intelligence and resourcefulness of a young Algerian girl in the face of challenges.
One interesting Tamil folktale is the story of Kannagi. Kannagi was a chaste woman who took revenge on the unjust king who had wrongly punished her husband. Her story is a symbol of justice and loyalty in Tamil culture.
The story of 'Panchatantra' is very famous. It is a collection of fables that have moral lessons like how to be wise in dealing with others. Each story in it is unique and engaging.