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A tall tale is a story that claims to explain the reason for some natural phenomenon, or sometimes illustrates how skilled/intelligent/powerful the subject of the tale was. In either case, the tall tale is fictional and usually obviously so. It can, however, be based on a real figure in history. Very often, the tall tale is told in a manner that is intentionally ridiculous. The tall tale is a fundamental element of American folk literature. The tall tale's origins are seen in the bragging contests that often occurred when the rough men of the American frontier gathered. The tales of legendary figures of the American Old West—such as Pecos Bill and the giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan—owe much to the style of tall tales. Other subjects of tall tales include:
Tall tales in Australia The Australian frontier similarly inspired the types of tall tales that are found in American folklore. The Australian versions typically centre around a mythical station called The Speewah, a land where men are men and giant megafauna roam the landscape. The heroes of the Speewah include: Another folk hero in Australian folklore is The Man from Snowy River - A hero (created by author Banjo Patterson) whose bravery, adaptability, and risk-taking could epitomise the new Australian spirit See also | ||||||||
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