Uncommon · Knowledge
Cumulative tale
Form of storytelling with similarly structured episodes and frequently repeated linguistic formulas
In a cumulative tale, sometimes also called a chain tale, action or dialogue repeats and builds up in some way as the tale progresses. With only the sparest of plots, these tales often depend upon repetition and rhythm for their effect, and can require a skilled storyteller to negotiate their tongue-twisting repetitions in performance.
From Wikipedia
In a cumulative tale, sometimes also called a chain tale, action or dialogue repeats and builds up in some way as the tale progresses. With only the sparest of plots, these tales often depend upon repetition and rhythm for their effect, and can require a skilled storyteller to negotiate their tongue-twisting repetitions in performance. The climax is sometimes abrupt and sobering as in "The Gingerbread Man". The device often takes the form of a cumulative song or nursery rhyme. Many cumulative tales feature a series of animals or forces of nature each more powerful than the last. The predictable structure of cumulative stories has been used to teach children to count.
Text: Wikipédia, CC BY-SA 4.0. · Image: Randolph Caldecott (Public domain) ·
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