Stories
are not just for children! Everyday conversation is full of personal
funny events and real life stories. "Do
you what happened on the way to the supermarket? Well, I was just about
to enter the store when ............." Stories are everywhere
around us in magazines, newspapers, books and on TV. They are part of
our daily experience. .
Many older stories are originally traditional folktales.
Some come from group experiences while others are from individuals.
Both historical stories and contemporary stories are told today.
There are many examples of stories: myths, fairytales,
animal stories, stories of the natural world, faith stories, Bible stories,
Celtic epics, sagas, wonder tales, Traveller tales, Gaelic stories,
funny stories, wisdom tales, supernatural tales, heroic stories and
Jack tales.
"Storytelling happens when the story is told person
to person, live, without print or technology."
Storytelling is not the remembering and oral presentation
of written text; it involves the imagination of the storyteller and
engages with the imagination of the hearer. Thereby it is an interaction
of hearts and minds. It is a human art shared between people and stimulates
the imagination.
People of different cultures and backgrounds, different
ages and education can be 'taken out of themselves' and experience not
only pleasure but also a greater understanding of themselves, their
neighbours and their environment.
"The story is told eye to eye, mind to mind, and
heart to heart." Scottish Traveller Proverb
Links to Storytelling websites and more ...