The development of mankind has been more or less rapid depending on the richness of the land, the geographical position and the historical events that developed there.
One common thread which unites mankind throughout all the continents without any boundaries of land or race is fantasy. Each continent has, however, marked differences and characteristics. Such differences can also be observed in the different arts such as drawing, music and dancing.
The individuality and the characteristics of the African continent are represented by its rich folklore, exposing a lifestyle that is completely different from the other continents.
In the pictorial art the colors used in drawings as well as in textiles are vibrant and reflect a love for and a sense of belonging to, the earth and the sun.
In the musical field, folk music and folk dancing tell stories whose sources are taken from a simple event of the day to an act of heroism and often include the participation of the community in their performance.
Since the title of my unit is “Similarities between African Folktales and French Folktales” I will explore those characteristics that made African tales so very original and different from any other continent. I hope to make the reader aware of the great tradition and variety of Folktales and Storytelling in Africa, and of the similarities to tales in other countries, especially France.
The different steps I will follow in order to achieve my objectives are:
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1. Select several folktales, focusing in particular on African countries where French is still spoken today.
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2. Compare these tales first to African tales and then find the common thread and/ or similarities with the French tales.
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3. Discuss the particular events that might have created that tale and explore the possibility of transferring them to modern times.
