Name: ___________________________________________

Geographic Regions and

American Tall TalesPROJECT PACKET

Assignment: Write your own American Tall Tale to explain the natural features of one North American geographic region.

Background Information:

Tall talk, or exaggerated storytelling, began in the 1800s as a way for Americans to come to terms with the vast and inhospitable lands they’d come to inhabit – thick, dark forests filled with bears and panthers; treeless, arid deserts and plains; towering mountains; and uncharted seacoasts. The heroes and heroines of the tales were like the land itself – gigantic, extravagant, restless, and flamboyant. Their exaggerated feats of courage and endurance helped the backwoodsman face the overwhelming task of developing

such land.

Tall tale characters…were born from various combinations of historical fact, the storytelling of ordinary people, and the imagination of professional writers. Davy Crockett and Johnny Appleseed, for instance, were actual people who lived in the first half of the 1800s. Over a period of time, as their stories were told…the true details of their lives were exaggerated and revised until they became folk heroes as well as historical figures. Other tall tale characters, such as Pecos Bill [and Paul Bunyan], were not actual men of history….these figures were for the most part the literary inventions of professional newspaper and magazine writers…

…[T]he tales reveal a wide range of geographic settings and they illustrate the different occupations that contributed to the development of the country. Pioneer settlers, backwoodsmen and –women, sea captains, volunteer firefighters, farmers, cowboys, cowgirls, railroad workers, loggers – all can be found in the American tall tale.*

Some tall tales were written to explain the creation of some of the more dramatic natural features in the American landscape. In the tradition of Greek myths, African folktales, and American Indian creation legends, characters like Pecos Bill are responsible for the existence of dramatic physical features, like the Grand Canyon. Other tall tales wrestle with American mixed feelings

about the transformational mechanical inventions of the 19th Century, like the steam engine.

* from American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osborne, p. x-xii, 1991

Characteristics of American Tall Tales

The hero or heroine is larger-than-life in some way and accomplishes great feats using strength, skill, and wits.

The author uses exaggeration and humor. Many of the things that happen in the tale could not happen in real life.

The hero is helped by a powerful object or animal (or both).

The story starts when the hero is a child or baby.

The tale includes stories from the hero’s childhood that show what’s unusual about him.

The tale includes stories that explain how the hero played a role in the creation of famous places or familiar objects. These stories are usually told in a humorous or outrageous way.

At the end of the story, the hero disappears in some way.

Name: _____________________________________________

Tall Tale Planning Chart 1:Hero or Heroine

Remember, the characteristics of your hero or heroine must match your Geographic Region.

Geographic Region

Hero or Heroine’s Name

Describe the appearance of your hero or heroine

Describe the special talents / larger-than-life

characteristics of your hero or heroine

Describe your hero’spowerful object.

(Ex: Pecos Bill’s rattlesnake lariat)

You may not use any type of gun.Describe your hero’s

animal sidekick.(Ex: Paul Bunyan’s blue ox

Babe)

How was your character born

or discovered?(Ex: Pecos Bill fell off a

wagon when he was a baby and was raised by wolves.)

Plan three incidents from your hero’s childhood that

help show his or her unusual characteristics.

How will your character disappear at the end of the

story?

(Should be a noble hero’s ending.)

Name: ________________________________________

Tall Tale Planning Chart 2:Geographic Features

Geographic Region Name:

Notes about the characteristics of this Geographic Region (use your textbook):

Specific physical feature found in this geographic region.Use the atlas to find these features.

What characteristics of this Geographic Region are shown in this physical feature?Use your textbook notes to identify these characteristics.

How will the actions of your tall tale hero or heroine explain the creation or existence of this physical feature?

1

2

3

4

Name: ____________________________________________

Tall Tale Checklist

Please use this checklist after you have written your rough draft to be sure your tale is complete.

______ Hero or Heroine with larger-than-life characteristics and/or powers.

______ Powerful object that helps hero with tasks (Please do not use any type of gun.)

______ Animal sidekick/companion.

______ Explanation of the hero’s birth or discovery

______ Three childhood incidents that show your hero’s unusual characteristics

______ Brief stories to explain the creation or existence of four natural features that

really exist in your geographic region.

______ Your tall tale should effectively reveal all of the the key characteristics of your

geographic region. Someone who reads your story should be able to pass a test on your region’s key facts.

______ Correct spelling and grammar.

______ Legible handwriting.

______ At least one illustration of your hero, object, OR animal companion.

______ At least one illustration of your geographic region OR one of the physical

features contained in your geographic region.