What Makes World Stories?
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by: chuckseltzer
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Word Count: 461
Throughout the world stories have been told and retold for millennia. In the fabric of a culture, they act as vital threads in the weave. They lend definition, roots, and significance to society. World stories spread as the culture grows.
I have been blessed by the number of world stories I have found from my travels around the world. I have also had the opportunity to learn a bit about each country. Customs and rituals. Geography and daily habits. So the world stories I hear have substantial meaning to me. And one of the benefits is to see how world stories come directly from the cultures of origin. My firsthand experience of a given culture heightens my appreciation of their stories. My travels have taken me to Southeast Asia, Central and South America, around the United States, Canada, and Europe. The differences as well as the similarities of the various countries impress me deeply.
You can find in every culture notions which they hold as sacred. You can also find things demonic. These notions appear regularly in their stories. Their stories grow out of this mythical soil. Myth forms the basis for many world stories. They include creation stories along with other stories that explain the world.
Folktales, on the other hand, are generated from daily village life. Naturally, stories of the folk world are couched in rural settings. The world of folktales is also inhabited by fairy tales. Stories about magic and mystery were apt outlets for questioning minds of preliterate villagers. Many folktales were cautionary tales with lessons for avoiding catastrophe. Stay out of the dark forest! Keep away from wild animals! Do not talk to strangers! Then again, many folktales tell of reward and happy endings. Good and evil are eternal foes. The Golden Rule reigns supreme. Regardless of genre, any worthy world story can be applied to contemporary life. And thats where modern day storytelling has a place. Contemporary society is far removed from rural villages of old, but the old stories still remain pertinent.
Some world stories are downright funny. Other world stories are filled with mystery. Many world stories are insightful. Often world stories are inscrutable. Generally world stories teach. All world stories entertain.
No matter what, all world stories maintain a deep bond with the fabric of their culture. People tell of their experiences through world stories. And in distant worlds they still have meaning.
To enjoy the breadth of subject matter found in world stories, listen to my CD entitled "World Full of Stories." It is an award winning recording that will take you on a delightful trip around the world!
About the Author
Learn the real scoop on great short stories, visit jaystetzer.com/worldstories/worldstories.shtml.
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