What Is a Tall Tale?

Tall tales became popular in America in the 1800s. They are a type of folktale, or story that people have been telling for a long time. At first, people shared these stories out loud. Later they wrote them down. Today you can read tall tales in books and magazines, and on the internet.

Many tall tales include exaggerations. That means people or situations might be described as being much bigger, better, or worse than they really are. One tall tale features a ship so big that its sails touch the moon!

Characters have superhuman traits like super-strength or super-speed. For example, there are tall tales about a super-strong man named John Henry. In one tale, he bursts through the roof of his house!

You might find yourself giggling during these stories. Why? During the 1800s, life was difficult for many Americans. Sharing tall tales took their minds off the hard times they were going through. People loved stories that made them laugh!

The setting is when and where a story takes place. Many tall tales explain how famous American places came to be. For example, in this tall tale, Paul Bunyan creates the mighty Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. How? Turn the page to find out!