Oral Narratives

Oral narrative definition

Let's start with a basic definition of 'oral narrative' before exploring its use over time.

Oral narratives can be fiction or non-fiction, but they are more than just funny anecdotes and historical accounts. Óral narratives are elaborate tales passed down through generations, recited by a passionate speaker to an audience. They are adapted to the listener and often contain theatrics. The oral narrative is more closely related to drama than prose, but while the visual elements of a play are often the most exciting part for an audience, the oral narrative is all about listening.

Fig 1. - Many cultures still practise traditional storytelling today. This pair from Kathak in North India are combining their oral narrative with theatrics to make the story more memorable.

The key points to remember about oral narratives are:

• Oral narratives are a significant part of cultural heritage, carrying values, beliefs, and history across generations.
• They are dynamic and adaptable, changing with each performance and in response to different audiences and contexts.
• Oral narratives are not simply stories but also serve important social, cultural, and pedagogical functions.
• Studying oral narratives offers insight into language use, narrative structure, cultural values, and community identity.

Genres of oral narratives

Oral narratives are not limited to a specific genre; they can take the form of prose or poetry. The storyteller typically employs theatrical devices but is only obligated to include them if they see them as necessary to the story.

The only consistent characteristics of the oral narrative are that the teller recites the story to an audience and that the narrative is typically passed down and adapted through generations. Every other choice relating to genre, style, or narration is subjective to the storyteller.

Let's explore some of the more common types of oral narrative in more detail.

Types of oral narratives

The oral narrative has taken many forms throughout history. Some of the most significant types of oral narratives are epics, myths, legends, fables, folktales, and anecdotes.

Epic

The epic is the defining genre within the oral narrative tradition. This poetic form tells lengthy tales of extraordinary people, superhuman feats, and incredible deeds. The epic poem usually contains a hero who embarks on an immense journey and encounters challenging obstacles and powerful enemies. Most epic narratives also track the protagonist's growth from a flawed individual into a worthy hero who will be remembered for eternity.

The first known example of the genre is the Epic of Gilgamesh, which began as a series of Mesopotamian poems in approximately 2100BC. While archaeologists recovered the version of the narrative we know today from ancient clay tablets, many scholars agree that the story was initially composed as an oral narrative and passed down through generations by storytellers.

Some other notable examples of the epic genre are Beowulf (8th century) and Homer's (c.8th century BC), The Illiad(8th century BCE) and The Odyssey (8th century BCE), all of which existed as part of an oral tradition for hundreds of years before being committed to writing.

Myth

A myth typically concerns the origin of something or is an attempt to explain a naturally occurring phenomenon. Mythical stories often include supernatural characters and regularly tackle religious themes.

Myths are often the most complex form of oral narrative for an outsider of a particular civilisation to understand, because they are a direct reflection of the views, ideas, and beliefs of a specific culture. Without the necessary context, it can be hard to understand how a story came to be.

Legends

Legends differ from myths because they are usually based on actual historical figures and are generally considered authentic by the narrator and readers. Legends depict human feats and struggles, dealing with topics like war, dynasties, and personal battles.

Storytellers also typically exaggerate legends to make them more interesting. The main hero's feats, strengths, or attributes may be overblown so that their character seems more incredible than they were. The legendary stories of 'King Arthur' and 'Robin Hood' are good examples of the genre.

Folktales

Folktales, also known as fairy tales, are short fictional stories often passed down from generation to generation. They are typically aimed at children and often contain moral lessons. The folktale is a more universal oral narrative genre because the short, accessible messages often translate well across different cultures.

The power of the oral narrative is evident when examining the longevity of folk tales. Stories familiar to many of us, like 'Three Blind Mice', 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears', and 'Jack and the Beanstalk', have been passed down through generations of the English language for hundreds of years.

Features of oral narratives

Some of the defining characteristics of oral narratives include:

1. Theatrics: Oral narratives are typically performed, not merely recited. Tone, body language, and vocal variation are important elements.
2. Repetition: This is often used for emphasis and to aid in memorization.
3. Formulaic Language: Oral narratives often use set phrases and structures to make the story easier to remember and recite.
4. Audience Interaction: In oral narratives, the audience often plays an active role, sometimes participating in the storytelling.
5. Adaptability: Each performance of an oral narrative can differ, as the storyteller may adapt the tale for different audiences or circumstances

Theatrics

While the focus of most oral narratives is on the content of the story, tellers often use theatrics to enhance their tales. Facial expressions, gestures, dance, and props help to bring a story to life. The storyteller may also strengthen their story with visual imagery and use rhyme and rhythm to make their narrative more memorable.

Fig 2. - This 1901 drawing commemorates Filip Višnjić (1767-1834), a blind Serbian poet and storyteller famous for his 13 original epic poems detailing the Serbian uprising against the Ottoman Empire.

Moral lessons

Many oral narratives contain important moral lessons and messages intertwined within the story. For example, fairy tales provide the audience with a cautionary lesson or instruct them on the right way to act. Folktales are a valuable way for many cultures to teach their children lessons before they can read. Before mass literacy, many epics, myths, and legends were also used as moral lessons to instruct and guide adults as well.

Personalised narratives

One of the defining features of the oral narrative is its adaptability. Storytellers can modify their stories to suit the needs and wants of the audience. They may set their narrative in locations familiar to the listeners or reference events relevant to the time. Using familiar contexts involves the audience in the creative process, forming an intimate bond between the storyteller and listener.

Examples of oral narratives

Examples of oral narratives include 'The Tortoise and the Hare' (Fable), 'Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox' (Legend), 'The Creation of the World' from many cultures (Myth), and Cinderella stories from various cultures (Folktales).

Curious to learn more? Here's a list of some literature from around the world that started out as an oral narrative.