Question

(1) Children know the words “Once upon a time.” (2) To children, they promise an entertaining tale. (3) To folklorists such as Jane Yolen, they offer a glimpse into history and the oral tradition: “Folktales . . . carry with them the thumbprints of history” (Yolen 5). (4) The oral tradition is still alive today in folk songs. (5) Some stories change as they are sung over and over. (6) One story kept alive in folk songs is the tale of John Henry. (7) This story of one man’s battle against a machine is based in fact, but several versions of the song have d