The Poetry of Folktales

Oral Tales as Sonnets

Folktales, whether told or read, have long been stories treasured by people of all ages. Joyful, sad, scary, or funny, they often serve to teach or  explain values important to the society they occur in. 

Many of the more common examples include animals or creatures that exist in the geographic regions where the tales are being told. Most of us are already somewhat familiar with 'trickster' animals such as coyotes, ravens, foxes, and spiders who can outwit others in order to help them learn about the dangers of greed and pride and the virtues of honesty and kindness. Those who bring forth important items, like fire, sunlight, or moon are often the story of myths (a topic for a future blog). 

The true beauty of these tales of folk wisdom is the fact that they evolve over time to reflect the world of the tale teller. This can be seen in today’s webtoons and anime that rely upon modern technology to story tell adventures of animals and people confronted with contemporary challenges, such as computer hacking. 

They have also found their way into revisioning of the classical world of sonnets; 14-line poems, written in iambic pentameter. This form, derived from the Italian sonetto means “a little sound or song.” According to Poets.org, this “popular classical form has compelled poets for centuries." The most common—and simplest—type is known as the English or Shakespearean sonnet. The iambic pentameter rhythm of each line consists of five metrical feet, each consisting of one short (unstresssed) syllable followed by one long (stressed) syllable. A great example can be seen in Hamlet's  To  be, or not to be, that is the question: 

Curious to know more folktales and sonnets, I sought out the work of UK Poet Paul Brookes whose As FolkTaleTeller  is a retelling of folktales in the sonnet tradition. Published in 2022 by Impspired, it contains 33 poems that explore a wide variety of folktales. Here, in part, is our conversation: 

Q: What made you decide to write folktales in sonnet form? Why not free-verse or traditional rhyme?
A: I set myself two challenges, one, to write a folktale in 14 rhymed lines, two to write it from the “monsters” point of view. Also, the folktales would be as contemporary as possible.  I believe writers do not progress unless they challenge themselves. 

Q: How has this challenged you?
A: Boiling something down to its essentials I always find challenging. Also, giving ancient characters modern resonance, surprisingly, when you get into their character the situations described becomes easier. 

Q:  Did exploring various stories and characters expand your own understanding of folktales?
A: It did, immensely. It showed me how relevant they are to our own times. 
Recently, every Summer a young person drowns in our nearby Manvers Lake, so imagining Jennie Greenteeth tempting young folk into her waters becomes a warning as folktale. 

Q: Which poems are among your favorite in this book?
A:  They change daily, which is a good thing. 

I told him I did have favorites. Among them, the opening poem which sets the tone for what follows all of us. 'The Autumnal Green Man' is a wild spirit of the forest. Unafraid of the ever-changing seasons, his grace and acceptance are comforting.  The first four lines read

        Spiders thread my lips lightly together. 

        My leaves become their actual colours 

        and fall from my face, red, yellow, ochre. 

        My voice rustle of green leaves is no more

Here is Paul's recording:  

Q: Do you find yourself wanting to write more of these sonnets? If so, who or what would you like to add to this collection?
A:  Yes. Wyvern, our local Blue Mary, pit ghosts, local Cat and Man tale, and many others. 

Q: What is it you hope readers take away from As FolkTaleTeller?
A: Something memorable; some image, some story, some phrase that stays with them, and even more so lights a balefire of creativity in their own head. 

Q: What are you currently working on?
A: Just finished “Hidden River Or, River Dearne ” inspired by the #promptcombo #rivers by Ronnie Smith on Twitter. I had an idea today to complement this with seven sonnets on the River Dove that flows into the Dearne at Darfield, just across the valley from Wombwell. All my poetry is about place in the finish. 

Want to know more? 

To learn more about Paul, visit The Wombwell Rainbow

To purchase a copy of As FolkTaleTeller