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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, to the contrary.
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American tall tales
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 lumberjack Paul Bunyan, owe much to the style of tall tales.
Other subjects of American tall tales include:
- Aylett C. (Strap) Buckner - A Native American-fighter of colonial Texas
- Davy Crockett - A pioneer and U.S. Congressman from Tennessee who later died at the Battle of the Alamo.
- Calamity Jane - A tough Wild West woman
- Febold Feboldson - A Nebraska farmer who could fight a drought
- Joe Magarac - A Pittsburgh steelworker made of steel
- Paul Bunyan - huge lumberjack who eats 50 pancakes in one minute
- Pecos Bill - legendary cowboy who "tamed the wild west"
- John Henry - A mighty steel-driving African American
- Johnny Appleseed - A friendly folk-hero whom traveled the West planting apple trees because he felt his guardian angel told him to.
- Mike Fink - The toughest boatman of the Mississippi and is rival of Davy Crockett. Also known as the King of the Mississippi River Keelboatmen
- Molly Pitcher - A heroine of the American Revolutionary War
- Alfred Bulltop Stormalong - An immense sailor whose ship was so big it scraped the moon
- Tony Beaver - A West Virginia lumberjack and cousin of Paul Bunyan
Australian tall tales
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.
The heroes of the Speewah include:
- Big Bill - The dumbest man on the Speewah who made his living cutting up mining shafts and selling them for post holes
- Crooked Mick - A champion shearer who had colossal strength and quick wit.
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.
Similar traditions in other cultures
Similar storytelling traditions are present elsewhere. The Cumbrian Liars in the United Kingdom provide one example. The film Laughter and Grief by the White Sea shows an illustration from the Pomors Russians by the White Sea. Tall tales are something you find hard to believe because of its exaggerated conditions.
See also
External links
