Which term refers to the traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people transmitted orally?

• A. Folklore
• B. Allegory
• C. Paradox
• D. Myth

Answer: (A)

Folklore is the term for the traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people transmitted orally. It covers the wide range of cultural material passed from generation to generation through spoken word—stories, legends, songs, customs, and crafts—that shape a community’s shared identity. The emphasis on oral transmission is what sets folklore apart, even though some of it may later be written down. A myth is a type of traditional story within folklore, usually explaining origins or the actions of gods, but folklore includes much more than just myths. Allegory is a narrative technique where stories symbolize deeper meanings, and a paradox is a statement that seems contradictory but reveals truth, neither of which define the broad tradition of oral-transmitted cultural material.