Importance of Stories
Stories are told all throughout a person’s life. Some stories, such as the ones told in history classes, inform future generations about the past to prevent the repeat of mistakes. Other stories are told to children to simplify life lessons that can transfer into adulthood. The effect that stories have also depend on the different genres, moods, tones, and other literary elements in a story used to portray the purpose. Ultimately, people tell stories to entertain or inform an audience about a specific topic.
One reason people tell stories is to entertain an audience. Entertaining stories are often used in children’s tales because children constantly need the entertainment to keep them occupied. One of the most common ways to do so is by telling a story. In children’s tales, the stories are often lighthearted. The protagonist usually finds a way to overcome the antagonist, and the mood and tone are usually joyful. “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffery Chaucer is a story whose purpose can be entertainment. Although its primary purpose is to inform in this class, “The Canterbury Tales” is a fictional poem whose purpose is not necessarily to inform. All stories, regardless of genre, can provide a form of escapism to the reader. Just like any other form of entertainment, reading a story regardless of the genre, tone, mood, or other literary elements can be used to escape reality and focus on recreation.
Stories can also be informative. People share informational stories in their everyday life. For instance, a person discussing the events of their day with a friend is sharing an informational story. Their story is informational because they are informing their friend about the actual events of their day. In “The Canterbury Tales,” the narrator is doing something similar by telling the audience information about his experience with the people they met during their pilgrimage. Although this story is fictional, the narrator is still being informative while discussing the other characters. The narrator discusses their experience with and perspective on numerous different people, including a knight, monk, merchant, and many others. In each poem dedicated to another character, the narrator tells their perception of the characteristics that each character possesses to inform their audience about their companions on the pilgrimage.
Overall, two purposes for stories are to inform and entertain. Whether a story is being told to a group of children or in a discussion about one’s day, educational and entertaining stories are portrayed in multiple ways.
