What is the difference between folktales and folklore?

Folklore and folktales are both contents of folk literature research. There are some similarities between the two, but the difference is still very big:?

1. From the concept It seems that folktales can be divided into broad and narrow senses. Folktales in the broad sense include legends, because in a broad sense, folktales are the name for all narrative prose works in oral creation.

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2. In terms of classification, folklore is divided into: legends of characters, legends of historical events and legends of scenery.

Folktales in a narrow sense are divided into: fantasy stories, life stories, folk fables and folk jokes.

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3. In terms of characteristics and content, the character legends of folklore are centered on the characters and describe their deeds or experiences. Show the people's opinion of them.

Just like the legend of emperors, from Qin Shihuang to Guangxu, they were either famous or infamy for thousands of years.

There are also famous writers, artists, craftsmen, and some traditional and fictional characters and legends.

The most common feature of these character legends is that whether the characters exist or are fictitious, they all have names and specific historical times and backgrounds.

Even if the protagonist is not necessarily a real person in history, some ancient documents still record it as if it happened.

Fictional stories mostly come from ancient, traditional folklore and have been circulated for thousands of years. No matter how many variations there are, the central plot of the story and the fate of the central protagonist remain unchanged.

Such as: the legend of Moye, the legend of Han Ping and his wife, the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, the legend of Meng Jiangnu, the legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, the legend of the White Snake, etc.

Folktales contain generic characters, broad backgrounds, and fictitious content. Most of their protagonists do not have definite names, and are titled boss, second, and third; eldest sister, second sister, and third sister. ; Zhang San, Li Si, Wang Wu; old man, old woman.

For example, in life stories, "the story of the long-term worker and the landlord", "the story of the clever daughter and clever wife", "the story of the silly son-in-law and silly son", "the story of the matchmaker", etc.

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Folklore has a wide range of contents, and the characters are diverse, while there are typologies of characters in folktales.

Various types of typical images are stored in folk tales: Afanti, Balagancang, Agudenba, Du Laoyao, etc.

This is a representative of witty people from all ethnic groups and regions, and has become a general name for almost all witty people in the local area.

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There is no fixed pattern for telling legends. Everything varies according to people, events, times, and places.

Folktales generally begin with some relatively fixed sentences, such as: "A long time ago...", "Once upon a time..." This is because folktales do not have Specific time, place, people, and very fantasy.

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4. Folklore is based on facts; folktales are fantasy, and fantasy is the life of folktales.

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Folklore and history are inextricably linked.

Legends are the people’s historical emotions that need to be openly expressed. Legends embody the people’s historical evaluations of various historical figures or historical events, and clearly reflect the people’s historical emotions.

Most of the objects covered by legends are real people in history.

Legends are sometimes told so vividly that people may mistakenly think they are history. Therefore, legends generally have certain historical elements and are "history passed down orally by the people" with a strong sense of authenticity. The individual feeling*** is wonderful.

For example, the legend of "General of the Yang Family", those who do not know the history will regard this legend as historical reality.

According to legend, Yang Yanzhao’s son was Yang Zongbao, and Yang Zongbao’s son was Yang Wenguang. However, according to the records of “Song History”, Yang Yanzhao’s son was Yang Wenguang, and there was no such person as Yang Zongbao.

But in life, if we talk about the latter, we will get it wrong by everyone’s jokes.

The Yang family will be portrayed as a loyal family, which expresses the feelings of the people, but cannot be equated with history.

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Fantasy plays an important role in folk tales.

Needless to say, myths, legends, and fairy tales contain a strong sense of fantasy. There are also elements of fantasy in fables, jokes, and life stories.

Such as the story of Afanti and the King.

In a social sense, the motivation behind the creation of folklore is an emotional expression of the people.

The beauty of Zhongshan River imbues the creation with charm, taking shape according to the object, and adding color according to the category. This is the general rule of legend creation.

Its emergence and spread rely on different folk beliefs. These legends are formed on the basis of different national psychology, and they strengthen national cohesion in the inheritance.