Tall Tale
By: Chad Houchin
Definition
A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements but told as if it were factual and true.
Notes on Tall Tales
- Can be based on real life characters and are often in familiar locations
- Tall tales and legends are not the same thing
- The line between tall tales and legends is mostly distinguished by age
- The exaggeration in tall tales is much larger, often becoming the whole story
Examples
Pecos Bill - He was the first cowboy who fell off the back of his parents' covered wagon. He raised by coyotes and used a snake for a lariat.
Paul Bunyan – Huge lumberjack who eats 50 pancakes in one minute.
Johnny Appleseed – A friendly folk hero who traveled the West planting apple trees.
Activity
Each table group come up with an example of a tall tale or create your own!
Works Cited
Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2015.
"Tall Tale." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2015
2015.