Tell a Story in English
Storytelling is the art of sharing stories. In this chapter, students of class 4 will learn how to tell a story in English in an interesting manner.
I. How To Tell a Story?
Storytelling is an art form that is ancient enough to retain our culture and tradition. The story is easily understood by everyone, regardless of language, hometown, or heritage.
There are various reasons for telling a story –it can be for entertainment, sharing the message, educating, etc. Stories stimulate the imagination and bring people, groups, or communities together.
- Components of a Story
- Every story has at least one character, which can be a person or an animal or anything personified. There is a main character who leads the story. There are other secondary characters too.
- Every story has a conflict which is a problem revolving around the main character. Conflict makes the audience connect to the story. Without conflict, the story has no purpose.
- Every good story has an end. It can be a happy or tragic ending. It occurs after you learn what happens to the characters when the conflict is resolved.
- Storytelling Process
- Hook their attention before. You start the story and tell them why it is important to listen. Use adjectives to introduce your story or start with dialogue.
- Keep it simple- make sure you keep the language simple so that many listen to you. Avoid misunderstandings so that the message is conveyed to the audience.
- Add your experience- This will connect the audience with the story.
- Practice and practice thoroughly-rehearse narrating the story in front of your friends or relatives, ask for feedback and work on it again and again. This will bring confidence to speak in front of many.
- Do’s and Don’ts for Storytelling
Below are the three components that make up a good story:
Now that you are familiar with the important components of the story. Let’s learn about how to tell a story.
Follow these do’s and don’ts to share a captivating story.
| Do's | Don'ts |
|---|---|
| i. Know the audience to whom you will narrate or tell the story. | Use any technical or literary terms, as it might be difficult for the listener to understand. |
| ii. Have a proper outline for your story. You should know the story plot well. | Make the characters overtly perfect. |
| iii. Make room for imagination. | Make the story complex. |
| iv. Use the first person. Examples are ‘I’, ‘Me’, etc. You would like the audience to relate to you, and first-person narration will help with that. | Tell somebody else’s story without their consent. |
| v. Tell the story in chronological order. | Get personal. It is fine to express your emotions but don’t go overboard with it. |
Sample Story
You can use the sample story below for storytelling.
The Boy Who Cried “Wolf”
Once upon a time, there was a boy who was bored with his usual chores of grazing his sheep on the hillside. Once,
he cried out for fun, “Wolf! Wolf! the wolf is chasing the sheep!”
The villagers heard the cry and soon came running up the hill to the boy to drive the wolf away. But the moment
they arrived, they saw no wolf. The boy was amused when he looked at the villager’s angry faces. One of the
villagers said, “Don’t scream wolf, boy, when there is no wolf”, warned the villagers angrily and went back down
the hill.
Later, the shepherd boy cried again, “Wolf! Wolf! the wolf is chasing the sheep!”
The villagers came running up the hill again to scare the wolf away, but as they saw there was no wolf, they
strictly gave him a warning “not to call wolf when there is no wolf”. They went back, grumbling down the hill
once again.
Later, the boy saw a real wolf sneaking around his flock. He quickly jumped and cried out loud, “Wolf! Wolf! But
the villagers ignored him and thought that he was again fooling him and didn’t come up to help.
In the evening when all the villagers went looking for the boy who didn’t return with the sheep. When they went
up the hill to check, they saw the boy crying, “there was a wolf here! the flock is all gone !”I cried out to
the wolf and no one came to help,” he wept.
A man went to console him and said “no one believes a liar even if he is telling the truth”.
II. Story Sequence
Every story has a sequence that is a process to determine the parts of a story- beginning, middle and end.
Question:
How to use story sequence while telling a story?
Answer:
While telling a story, do not mix up the timelines and the story order. Start with building character and then explain the action. Once you have an outline, try it out in your head and then begin to write or narrate in front of a mirror.
III. Adjectives
Question:
How to Use Descriptive Words in Storytelling?
Answer:
Adjectives are words that describe a noun or pronoun by describing it or its quality. This helps the listener to create the picture in his imagination. Make use of specific adjectives to make character sketches, describe the location, etc.
Example:
The villagers heard the cry and soon came running up the hill to the boy to drive the wolf away. But the moment they arrived, they saw no wolf. The boy was amused looking at their angry faces.
IV. Sensory Details
Question:
How to Use Sensory Details While Telling a Story?
Sensory details appeal to the five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. The objective of using sensory details is to get the reader to feel like they are there with the character.
Answer:
Engage and build interest in the listener by adding sensory details to the story. Use details like sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound.
Example:
Once, he cried out for fun, “Wolf! Wolf! the wolf is chasing the sheep!”
He quickly jumped and cried out loud, “Wolf! Wolf! But the villagers ignored him.