The tale is a genre textual marked by the narrative short, written in prose and of less complexity compared to the novel.
The origin of the tales is related to the tradition of telling stories verbally. When transcribed, these same stories (which generally follow a plot only) result in a narrative, concise manner that can be read in a short time.
The term tale can be translated into the English language as “tale”, a type of short text that discusses, necessarily, themes, epics, folklore, or fantasy. For this reason, the concept of the tale remained, for a long time, related to these topics.
With the emergence of new techniques and styles of writing, the term has acquired a broader meaning that can be expressed in the English language as a “short story”, a text whose only traits required are the short length and written in prose.
Learn more about novels.
Features of the tale
The current variety of literary allows that a story be present in a variety of ways. As stated above, the unique characteristics absolute of style is written in prose and the narrative short, therefore, a story can follow any genre or structure, without this resulting in its classification.
However, as a natural consequence of the narrative short, the tales feature some elements that, independent of the genre and structure chosen by the author, end up being recurring:
- Unique storyline: unlike novels, short stories tend to focus on a plot that is not divided into plots smaller. Often the story revolves around a single situation.
- Simplicity: due to the unique storyline, the tales do not usually require major interpretations on the part of the reader.
- Short space of time: the tales often present frames that do not extend for long periods of time. It is common, for example, that the history pass in a single day.
- Beginning near the end: generally the tales do not devote time in the introduction of the environment and the characters, so the story begins near the climax and the outcome.
- Few characters: for being the most objective, short stories tend to display a number as well reduced of the characters.
- The end is sudden: in tales, it is normal for the end to happen immediately after the climax. There is, therefore, a phase of history in which we can track the consequences of the resolution of the conflict.
- Single goal: not to have developments, the tale seeks to cause a unique feeling in the reader (happiness, anger, melancholy, etc.) or, simply, to tell a story.
- These characteristics mean that the tale is the genre of textual perfect for content geared to children, especially fairy tales. It is worth saying that these elements are not mandatory and the absence of one or more of them does not disqualify the text as a tale.
· Example of tale
The following tale is called “The truth also catch” the writer José Cândido de Carvalho and brings together all the elements listed above.
“When he arrived in Pipeiras the delegate Nonô Pestana was the one zunzum, the one evil being. The delegate came dragging huge writing tablet. It was with great pride that Nonô said showing the instrument of work:
— Me does not have this business of a spontaneous confession thing no! To me the whole world enters in the instrumental. That is the only way for the authority to know if the subject is criminal or innocent.
And well Nonô had not rolled up the sleeves appeared a red saying that they have given death by esquartejamento to such a Chico Head. By that, he confessed to be repentant and ready to purge, in the meshes of the law, the crime of their tillage:
— Killed him and buried Chico Dust in the backyard of my house.
In fact, the quartered there was can’t wait da silva to never return to Chico day today. It was when the delegate within their principles of justice, he spent the confessante for a writing tablet whooping and smart. And the sujeitinho both caught that just desconfessando everything. He swore with folded hands that he was a liar and inventeiro. That the other had quartered Chico Currently. And Nonô proud:
— That’s what I say, and provo. Does not have as a writing tablet for the suspect to tell the truth. If you do not minister this concealer, the delegate Nonô Pestana, who am I, sent for a chain of thirty years, a poor innocent.
And let go of the man.”
Short stories and chronicles
Tales and chronicles are literary models very similar. Both are short texts, written in prose and without the genre and structure specific. The difference between the two lies in the content of the text.
While the goal of the stories is just to tell you a short story, fictional or not, the chronicles tend to convey a critical reflection or a teaching applicable to everyday life. To achieve this goal, the chronic can be take the form of a linear storyline (with a beginning, middle and end), or even to be a set of ideas not connected by a plot.
