Story
telling is an art-whether it’s the sort of tale you tell your wife when you
come creeping in the morning, or the kind that puts junior to sleep at night.
If you can spin a yarn that hold the attention of your audience , regardless of
age and bent of mind, you may count yourself among the chosen few.
Those
parents who are endowed with the art of telling enthralling tales to their
children, find it an invaluable sugarcoating with pleasant tasks, such as
putting junior to bed or washing his hair. And telling the story provides an
even stronger link between parents and child than just reading a story can
forge.
The habit of
story-telling, in particular has grown into a nightly bed-time custom. Once
young sunny is tucked in, his father
stretches out on the bed beside him, turns out the light, and out of thin air
concocts his story about the imaginary people he has created for his child’s
benefit.
Telling a
story also gives the father a chance to impart some actual knowledge ,as well
as nonsense. And, above all, the father feels that his innocent tales are a
relief from the horror tales in comics, and, actually, even in some of our well
known fairy tales.
Story-telling
is an old art. In ancient times we find the Greeks and Romans with their great
amphitheaters. At these large gatherings were professional story-tellers, whose
words were more vividly impressed upon the minds of the listeners by means of
actors in pantomime.
“When
reading a story, you are tied down to the author’s words and thus are
attempting to assume his personality. You are really not ‘feeling’ the story.
You are unable to watch the facial expressions of the audience”.
By telling
the story you can adapt the same story to many different types of audience and
to suit their moods. You have the writer’s thought and ideas in your mind, but
you are able to give the author’s main ideas plus convey in part something of
your own personality.
There are a
few little ticks of technique that a good story- teller uses whether consciously
or unconsciously. A pause, judiciously employed, is one of the most important
.It gives the mind time to grasp a new idea, allows the listener to assimilate what has gone before,
gives emphasis and arouses suspense.
Gestures are
good , but be careful not to overdo it. Mimicry, if you are capable of it ,is
very good especially with younger children. To secure the attention of your
audience ,use a striking beginning, which will enlist their interest right from
the start.
Stories have
both educational and emotional value. Stories are childhood’s form of
expressions and it is through stories that the child’s mind is developed.
Stories give
a child a better insight into human emotion. Stories stimulate and direct
literary pursuits. A good instance of their emotional value is the development
of sympathy towards animals. Stories may also be used to encourage respect for,
and care of, elderly people.
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