West Virginia's Appalachian Music and Literature: Folk Heroes

Write a Tall Tale

The KEY to a tall tale is EXAGGERATION.

Your first step is to choose a tall tale hero—you might write another adventure for Tony Beaver or you might invent a new character (maybe a character based on a legendary hero from your area).


Now you need an adventure for your tall tale hero. Once again, the key is to EXAGGERATE. The main event of a tall tale is not something that can happen in real life.


(Name of tall tale hero)

was the ______________________________________________
(describing words, like toughest, smartest)

man/woman in the state of ___________________________.
(state name ) .

Everyone for miles around knew________________________
(hero's name)


Now one day _________________________________________
(hero's name)

went to visit Grandfather. Grandfather had been

having big problems with ______________________________



Grandfather explained his problem.

That was all it took. Right away ______________________



(How the hero solved Grandfather's problem)

Grandfather's problem was solved,

and the folks in____________________________
(the state you chose)

now had a new story to tell about_________________________
(hero's name)

[SUGGESTION: You can print this page to use the pattern as you write your story.]

E-Mail your story to us.

See also Write Your Own Ballad and Collect a Ghost Story in this teaching unit, or Writing a Tall Tale in AppLit tall tales study guide.

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See also Complete list of AppLit pages on folklore
Tall Tales and Jack Tales: Literature and Writing Activities