Wisdom Storytelling and Tales of Enlightenment
Narrating Inspiring Stories From Folklore and Personal Experience
Mar 12, 2009
Stories that follow a temporal format, describing "what it was like, what happened, and what it’s like now", are called wisdom stories. People have been telling these since the dawn of civilization. All that is needed to narrate a wisdom story is an honest self-assessment, some experience in life and a connection to the topic.
A wisdom story illustrates how the narrator went from one human condition to another, gaining wisdom in the passage. Everyone can relate to having problems, exploring answers, and gradually arriving at solutions, even if they are temporary ones. “Progress not perfection”, is a good way to sum up a wisdom story.
Sometimes, hearing another’s story can lead to profound change. Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham, authors of The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning, point out that as the narrator shares a wisdom tale, the listener often experiences an “aha” moment. Mentally, a little voice inside says: “Wow, I’ve never understood it that way before. That changes everything.”
Wisdom Tales in Literature
Classical literature abounds with stories with a moral point of view. Sources include fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm and more recent writers like Jane Yolen. Myths from other cultures and tales of the Hasidim and Sufi masters are other examples. A wisdom story familiar to many listeners is the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, who was too trusting with strangers.
Ancient proverbs and modern koans can be the starting point for building a story. The Chinese proverb, “Convert great quarrels into small ones, and small ones into nothing,” conveys a theme that a storyteller could use for illustrating her own story of resolving conflict. Follow the temporal outline to relate the story from the narrator’s personal experience.
12 Step and Other Personal Growth Stories
Narrating a story about what it was like, what happened to change things, and what it’s like now is the standard format used by people in 12 Step programs. The storyteller narrates for others in the group an experience of coming to terms with his foibles and mistakes. In the course of the narrative, the storyteller often has a flash of recognition about a behavior or outlook that has tripped him up. Listeners in turn recognize themselves in the story.
Self-help literature is an abundant reservoir of wisdom stories. From the latest Oprah book choice to the subtle and insightful writing of Rachel Naomi Remen’s Kitchen Table Wisdom and My Grandfather’s Blessings, there are many examples of how to narrate a contemporary wisdom story.
Why Wisdom Stories are Powerful
A wisdom story typically demonstrates how a mistake or painful situation has been transformed into one of progress and even—although not necessarily—success. The story’s chronological format makes it easy for listeners to follow along. There is a definite beginning, middle and end.
In The Poetics, Aristotle attributed the power of wisdom stories to the sympathetic connection created between dramatist and viewer. In a turn of fortune story, the main character or protagonist experiences some change in circumstance or reversal. As she confronts her misfortune through a journey of introspection and increasing self-awareness, she arrives at a place of recognition. The audience, listening attentively, is drawn along and can relate to her situation.
In a wisdom story, the narrator is never perfect; he or she acknowledges mistakes made and encourages listeners to believe they too can surmount their difficulties. Storyteller and listeners end the story a little wiser for coming to terms with their weaknesses and for owning their strengths.
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