Deck 6: Traditional Literature

Question 1

Traditional literature today is considered

A) to be true.
B) to have its origins, like the human species, in Africa.
C) to provide insights into cultural beliefs and values.
D) to be an important source of information.
E) to be outdated.

Answer 1

to provide insights into cultural beliefs and values.

Question 2

Settings in folk literature are

A) used to identify the cultural origin and historical era of tales.
B) unimportant and vaguely described.
C) a key to folktale type.
D) almost always rural.
E) integral to the story.

Answer 2

unimportant and vaguely described.

Question 3

Characters in folk literature typically are

A) innocent, hard-working, and good-hearted.
B) of European origin.
C) easily identifiable as good or bad.
D) prone to make remarkable changes within a short time.
E) complex and described in detail.

Answer 3

easily identifiable as good or bad.

Question 4

Plots in folk literature are

A) short and action-packed.
B) slow to start but quick to end.
C) rich in cultural detail.
D) made interesting by the incorporation of one or two subplots.
E) known for their use of flashbacks.

Question 5

Themes in folk literature are

A) infinitely varied.
B) vague and unimportant.
C) almost always happy.
D) limited.
E) subtle and elusive.

Question 6

Today folktales are considered particularly appropriate for

A) children aged 3 and up.
B) children aged 2 to 4.
C) children aged 8 to 12.
D) children aged 0 to 2.
E) children aged 2 to 5.

Question 7

Folklore is

A) exclusively a product of ancient times.
B) largely a product of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Europe.
C) still being created today.
D) stories that are told orally, not written down.

Question 8

Critics who believe that violent fairy tales should be shared in their original versions would argue that

A) the violence in the original stories keeps children's interest.
B) the altered versions omit essential elements of setting.
C) the psychological benefit is good for children.
D) the authors' original ideas should be preserved.

Question 9

In evaluating current versions of traditional literature, it is appropriate for which of the following features to be rich rather than simple?

A) plot and characters
B) plot and language
C) characters and setting
D) language and illustrations
E) setting and characters

Question 10

Of the following, the most appropriate criterion to use in evaluating traditional literature is:

A) characters should be round and fully developed to be believable.
B) integral, detailed settings must be established to make the tale more authentic.
C) spare, uncomplicated writing style should mirror the simple lives of people long ago.
D) unusual speech patterns, colloquialisms, foreign terms, and so forth should be used to preserve the flavor of the culture of origin.
E) endings and themes should be varied to add interest.

Question 11

The first known English publication of any traditional literature was William Caxton's

A) Little Goody Two Shoes.
B) Aesop's Fables.
C) Tales of Mother Goose.
D) The Green Fairy Book.

Question 12

The popularity of traditional literature was hindered by which of the following?

A) the Puritan Movement
B) chapbooks
C) the Romantic Movement
D) classic fables
E) the New Realism Movement

Question 13

The popularity of folktales

A) is increasing among certain minorities in the United States.
B) is decreasing generally.
C) is increasing among older students.
D) is continuing to grow.
E) is growing in certain developing countries.

Question 14

Of the following types of traditional literature, which one is best suited to an audience 9 years old and up?

A) myths
B) fables
C) fairy tales
D) cumulative tales
E) beast tales

Question 15

A parable is properly classified as a type of

A) fable.
B) religious story.
C) myth.
D) epic.
E) pourquoi tale.

Question 16

Develop a set of matching items from notable retellers, collectors, and illustrators of traditional literature or milestone books featured in class. (See example in introduction to the test bank.)

Question 17

Match the type of traditional literature on the left with the most characteristic feature on the right.

-real or supposedly real individuals
B. gods and goddesses as characters
C. highly exaggerated accounts of real and imagined persons
D. primitive explanations for why something exists
E. animal characters teach a lesson
F. many episodes of heroism

Question 18

Match the type of traditional literature on the left with the most characteristic feature on the right.

-Fable

A) real or supposedly real individuals
B) gods and goddesses as characters
C) highly exaggerated accounts of real and imagined persons
D) primitive explanations for why something exists
E) animal characters teach a lesson
F) many episodes of heroism

Question 19

Match the type of traditional literature on the left with the most characteristic feature on the right.

-Legend

A) real or supposedly real individuals
B) gods and goddesses as characters
C) highly exaggerated accounts of real and imagined persons
D) primitive explanations for why something exists
E) animal characters teach a lesson
F) many episodes of heroism

Question 20

Match the type of traditional literature on the left with the most characteristic feature on the right.

-real or supposedly real individuals
B) gods and goddesses as characters
C) highly exaggerated accounts of real and imagined persons
D) primitive explanations for why something exists
E) animal characters teach a lesson
F) many episodes of heroism

Question 21

Match the type of traditional literature on the left with the most characteristic feature on the right.

-pourquoi

A) real or supposedly real individuals
B) gods and goddesses as characters
C) highly exaggerated accounts of real and imagined persons
D) primitive explanations for why something exists
E) animal characters teach a lesson
F) many episodes of heroism

Question 22

_________________________ are traditional stories sharing fundamental elements of plot or character with other stories.

Question 23

_________________________ are highly exaggerated accounts of real or imagined persons having lived in the not-too-distant past.

Question 24

________________________ are stories based on real or supposedly real individuals and their marvelous deeds.

Question 25

____________________ are long stories of human adventure and heroism recounted in many episodes, often in verse.

Question 26

____________________ are stories that recount and explain the origins of the world and phenomena of nature.

Question 27

____________________ are tales having characters such as elves, pixies, and genies and objects such as flying carpets.

Question 28

__________________ is a type of traditional literature which is a simple story with a stated or implied moral and, usually, animal characters.

Question 29

_____________________ is a simple tale that explains why something in nature is as it is.

Question 30

_______________________________________________(a book title) by Charles Perrault is considered to be the first written version of folktales.

Question 31

A type of book that helped keep traditional heroes alive during the Puritan Movement is the ____________________________________________.

Question 32

____________________________________________ is a way of sharing traditional literature with children that involves storytelling through the use of computer-based tools.

Question 33

Define traditional literature.

Question 34

List and briefly explain five or six features typical of traditional literature. (These features should refer to the typical treatment of the elements of fiction found in traditional literature.)

Question 35

List and explain three criteria to use in evaluating traditional literature. (Assume that text and illustration quality are superior. Thus, the criteria you select should be specific to traditional literature.)

Question 36

List three milestones in the development of traditional literature and tell why each is considered a milestone.

Question 37

How do legends differ from tall tales?

Question 38

How do myths differ from pourquoi tales?

Question 39

Explain the theories of monogenesis and polygenesis as they pertain to traditional literature.

Question 40

What are two or three criteria for selecting stories for storytelling?

Question 41

Take a stand for or against sharing with children the more violent, but more authentic, versions of folktales. Present both sides of the issue, but support your stand.

Question 42

Trace the history of traditional literature from the early publication of Aesop's Fables in 1484 to modern times.

Question 43

Analyze reasons for the continued popularity of traditional literature with children today. Your analysis should include, but not be limited to, the common features of traditional literature as presented in your textbook.

Question 44

Present an argument for teaching religious stories, such as Bible or Buddha stories, as part of a literature curriculum.

Question 45

Discuss the reasons why you would engage in storytelling as a way to share traditional literature with children.