Love is often a central theme as well. In stories such as 'King Arthur and Guinevere', their love is a significant part of the narrative. Additionally, the theme of adventure is prevalent. Characters embark on exciting adventures, like in 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin', where the piper leads the children on a strange adventure. These themes make English folk stories rich and engaging.
One main theme is the struggle between good and evil. In many Chinese folk stories such as 'The Monkey King Subdues the Demon', the Monkey King battles against evil demons. Family values are also important themes. In stories like 'The Story of Meng Jiangnv', her love for her husband and her search for him reflect family loyalty. Folklore often also has the theme of the supernatural, like in 'The White Snake' with the snake spirit.
English folk tales often have simple yet engaging plots. They usually involve common characters like farmers, animals, and ordinary people. For example, in 'The Three Little Pigs', the pigs are relatable characters. They also tend to teach moral lessons, like the importance of hard work and planning as shown in that story.
A third theme is the importance of family and community. There are Khmer folk stories that emphasize the support and unity within a family or a community. For example, a story might tell of a village facing a great danger, and only through the combined efforts of all the villagers, including the young and the old, men and women, can they overcome the threat. This theme reflects the social structure and values of the Khmer society in the past, where family and community were the foundation of people's lives.
Tragedy is also a common theme. Most of these Punjabi folk love stories end in a tragic way. This shows that in the context of the time these stories were formed, love was often a difficult and dangerous emotion. For example, in Heer Ranjha, both lovers die, and in Sohni Mahiwal, they also meet a sad end. It reflects the harsh realities that could prevent love from flourishing.
One of the main themes is morality. Tales often teach right from wrong, like in the Panchatantra where animals act in ways that show the consequences of greed or kindness. Another theme is heroism. In stories like the Ramayana, Rama is a heroic figure who overcomes great challenges. And there is also the theme of friendship, as seen in many tales where characters support each other through difficult situations.
A great English folk tale is 'Little Red Riding Hood'. A young girl, Little Red Riding Hood, is on her way to visit her sick grandmother. On the way, she meets a wolf. The wolf gets to the grandmother's house first and pretends to be the grandmother. When Little Red Riding Hood arrives, she eventually realizes it's the wolf and is saved. 'The Three Little Pigs' is also very well - known. Three pigs build houses of different materials. The first two build with straw and sticks respectively and their houses are easily blown down by the big bad wolf. But the third pig builds with bricks and manages to keep the wolf at bay.
Take 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. One moral is the idea of taking risks. Jack took a risk by trading the cow for the beans and it led to a great adventure. In 'Beauty and the Beast', it shows that inner beauty is important. The beast was initially feared but his kind heart won the love of Beauty. Also, in 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin', it can be a lesson about keeping one's promises. The town didn't keep their promise to the piper and faced consequences.
One main theme is the struggle against family and society. In stories like Heer - Ranjha, the lovers face opposition from their families, which is a common occurrence in Indian folk love stories. This shows how social norms and family expectations can interfere with true love.
One of the main themes is kindness. As in the story of the elephant and the tailor, kindness is rewarded and unkindness is punished. Another theme is humility. For example, in the story of the pomegranate tree and the bramble, the prideful are brought low while the humble survive. Also, the idea of karma or 'what goes around comes around' is a common theme. If you do good, good will come back to you and vice versa.
Love and family are common themes. In many folk and stories, the love between characters, like a romantic love between a hero and a heroine, or the deep family love, drives the plot. For example, in some European folk tales, a young man goes on a dangerous journey to save his family from an evil force.