BAILEY'S STORYTELLING GUIDE Volume 52

ABOUT THE BOOKPrimitive Africans originated/developed Storytelling. First, while demonstrating Nature to their youth, they used Stories to awaken youth's natural curiosity for purposes of generating enjoyment of learning to spur ongoing Self-Improvement. Such was done by Adages, Aphorisms, Fables, Gnome, Humor, Information, Maxim, Mythology, Nature, Parables, Proverbs, Spirituality stories, Analogies (something operating "as if" it is the original). Second, storytellers dramatized Epics, Fictions, Folklore, Folktales, Legends, Literary Tales, Novel (unfolding fictional plot), Personifications, Saga, Yarns with excitement. Third, Brain 'Teasers' intent was to stimulate youth's minds-Riddles, Conundrums, Enigmas, Allusions, Puzzles, Mysteries, Paradoxes. Fourth, stories of Places, like Supernatural realms representing Contingent Beings (phantoms), aimed to "touch" humans' "Hearts" and stir into action Ultimate Truths lying dormant within them. Fifth, Things of Foundational importance, as Myths (sacred stories) served as contexts for Pleasure/Pain in Life Systems; Allegories (a 'story within a story' whose inner underlying life-shaping/life-changing messages are hidden in deeper parts). Sixth, cultivation of humans' Soul Play/Fun attributes-e.g. Jokes, Anecdotes, Mysteries, Shaggy Dog stories--balanced the Sanity scale with Serious business. In African Tradition, these concern ones Highest (Divinity) Self, manifested by Instinct Play/Fun, while Sublime Pleasure embraces Humane Humor, Wit, Comedy, so vital for "Making Fun Out of Hard Work!" When these forms were carried outside Africa, each culture expanded/changed most to be actual/surreal/fictitious-in prose/dramatized/verse-- oral/written. Many were designed to fashion the Useful, Necessary, Important, Desirable; to advance "Facts"/Knowledge; to prove/disprove a point, describe/convey good/bad + to create, enhance, maintain ones Theme/Foundation/Standards for lifestyle guides, filters, measures, Judgments.