Rujira Machimo ID:51010512539... English Major: Storytelling

Storytelling

- What is a Story?

Most dictionaries define a story as a narrative account of a real or imagined event or events. Within the storytelling community, a story is more generally agreed to be a specific structure of narrative with a specific style and set of characters and which includes a sense of completeness. Through this sharing of experience we use stories to pass on accumulated wisdom, beliefs, and values. Through stories we explain how things are, why they are, and our role and purpose. Stories are the building blocks of knowledge, the foundation of memory and learning. Stories connect us with our humanness and link past, present, and future by teaching us to anticipate the possible consequences of our actions.

- What is a telling?

It is the live, person-to-person oral and physical presentation of a story to an audience. "Telling" involves direct contact between teller and listener. It mandates the direct presentation of the story by the teller. The teller's role is to prepare and present the necessary language, vocalization, and physicality to effectively and efficiently communicate the images of a story. The listener's role is to actively create the vivid, multi-sensory images, actions, characters, and events---the reality---of the story in their mind based on the performance by the teller, and on their past experiences, beliefs, and understandings. The completed story happens in the mind of the listener, unique and personal for each individual.

Storytelling is an interactive performance art form. Direct interaction between the teller and audience is an essential element of the storytelling experience. An audience responds to the teller's words and actions. The teller uses this generally non-verbal feedback to immediately, spontaneously, and improvisationally adjust the tones, wording, and pace of the story to better meet the needs of the audience.
Storytelling is, by design, a co-creative process. Storytelling audiences do not passively receive a story from the teller, as a viewer receives and records the content of a television program or motion picture. The teller provides no visual images, no stage set, and generally, no costumes related to story characters or historic period. Listeners create these images based on the performer's telling and on their own experiences and beliefs.
Storytelling is, by its nature, personal, interpretive, and uniquely human. Storytelling passes on the essence of who we are. Stories are a prime vehicle for assessing and interpreting events, experiences, and concepts from minor moments of daily life to the grand nature of the human condition. It is an intrinsic and basic form of human communication. More than any other form of communication, the telling of stories in an integral and essential part of the human experience.
Storytelling is a process, a medium for sharing, interpreting, offering the content and meaning of a story to an audience. Because storytelling is spontaneous and experiential, and thus a dynamic interaction between teller and listener, it is far more difficult to describe than is the script and camera directions of a movie, or the lines and stage direction notes of a play. Storytelling emerges from the interaction and cooperative, coordinated efforts of teller and audience.

From : http://www.eldrbarry.net/roos/st_defn.htm

The Fox and the Grapes

One hot summer's day

A fox was strolling through an orchard

till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening

on a vine which has been trained over a lofty branch.

Just the thing to quench my thirst,"

quote he.

Drawing back a few paces,

he took a run and a jump,

and just missed the bunch

Turning round again

with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up,

but with no greater success.

Again and again he tried,

but at last had to give up,

and walked away

with his nose in the air,

saying;

I am sure they are sour."

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THE TWO POTS

Two Pots had been left on the bank of a river, one of brass, and one of earthenware. When the tide rose they both floated off down the stream. Now the earthenware pot tried its best to keep aloof from the brass one, which cried out: "Fear nothing, friend, I will not strike you." "But I may come in contact with you," said the other, "if I come too close; and whether I hit you, or you hit me, I shall suffer for it."

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The Dog in the Manger

A Dog looking out for its afternoon nap jumped into the manger of an ox and lay there cozily up on the straw. But soon the ox, returning from its afternoon work, came up to the manger and wanted to eat some of the straw.

The dog in a rage, being awakened from its slumber, stood up and barked at the ox, and whenever it came near attempted to bite it. At last the ox had to give up the hope of getting at the straw and went away.

“ people often grudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves”

http://funtales4u.blogspot.com/2011/08/dog-in-manger.html

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The Birds and The Rhinoceros

Once upon a time, there was a forest where plenty of birds lived and built their nests on the trees. There lived many kinds of birds who always quarrelled with one another. 

One day there was a rhinoceros walking into this forest and saw that there were a lot of birds on the trees. The rhinoceros who was hungry, banged a tree with his horn until a nest of the green bird fell down.

Then the rhinoceros ate the nestlings in that nest. The mother bird was very angry but she could do nothing. After the rhinoceros had ate all the nestlings, he walked away.

All the birds gathered and discussed their opinions. " The rhinoceros will surely come back again," said the red bird. "We must get together to drive him away."

"No, that rhinoceros is very big and strong," said the green bird. "I agree with you, we cannot drive him away," said a yellow bird.

Because these birds were used to quarrel among themselves, they did not agree to the red bird's idea. So no one prepared to fight against the rhinoceros. 

With nobody agreed to the plan, the red bird and his mate discussed between them, "there is no other way but to help ourselves."

So, they moved their nest to a tree which was on a cliff where the rhinoceros would never reach.

The next day, the rhinoceros came to the forest and again used it's horn to bang a tree where the yellow bird lived. As a result, the yellow bird's nest fell down.

After that, the rhinoceros banged many other trees. Thus, a lot of nestlings and eggs became his food. All the bird regrets that they did not prepare to cope with the rhinoceros. On the other hand, the red bird's family remained safe as they were prepared for the expected danger.

“A careful person will be safe from any danger.”