ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors explore how traditional tales such as myths, legends, and folktales are renewed for new audiences and adapted to new forms of storytelling. They consider how traditional works can be reinvented in ways that question the assumptions and values represented in the original version. The authors also explore the ways teachers can help young adults experience and appreciate the connection between oral storytelling and other forms of literature. They identify the characteristics of various types of traditional literature and explore how traditional tales have been retold or reinvented for contemporary young adults. The authors also identify the content and forms that are characteristic of various types of traditional literature. They provide some of the ways in which these tales have been retold and reinvented, and they identify how both traditional and contemporary versions can be incorporated into a literature program for young adults.
