The Power of the Storyteller
By Kirk House
Anyone can master the skill of telling a tale in a way that keeps an audience spellbound and creates memories of the occasion.
"A long time ago, not very far from here ..." As a Tenderfoot by the
campfire, I heard a Scout storyteller spin an improbable spooky tale about
a local legend called Crazy Mike. As the Scouts rearranged their tents for
protection, I realized the incredible power of the storyteller.
Storytelling takes work, but most of us already have the needed skills.
If we want, we can put them together and join a long Scout tradition—one
that the boys will remember more clearly than many of our other activities
with them.
Why storytelling?
It can be a lot of fun to tell a tale, and most of the listeners like
it, too. But storytelling can also be a painless teaching time.
With a little research, storytelling can develop historical, geographic,
or cultural background. This could be important for a troop building
bridges between ethnic or cultural communities. It can also add appreciation
for field trips and long journeys. Sometimes stories make subtle points
on character issues, but most kids can spot a "moral" and quickly turn
it off. Save these lessons for occasions like the Scoutmaster Minute.
Storytelling also stimulates the imagination and builds up listening
skills. So much of our entertainment is visual that we are neglecting
the "mind's eye." For longtime listerners, Jack Benny's vault was much
better on radio than it was on television. Nothing on TV could match
the mental picture conjured by dialogue and sound effects.
Storytelling is one way of staying "mentally awake.
Telling a story supports Scouting's encouragement of reading and
academics. It shows the boys that books and literature are important to
men. Some boys may never get that message anyplace else.
There is also a "nuts and bolts" benefit. Sometimes we need to settle
the Scouts down and draw in attention. This may be around the campfire
before lights go out or in the parking lot waiting for transport. A
story can be a big help.
How to pick a good story
A story you like will be easy to remember. If you don't like a story,
your audience can tell.
A good story, with a strong story line, generally comes from one point
of view and moves along chronologically. A reader can flip pages when
confused. A storytelling audience can't.
A story needs one of three things to work well: suspense, strong emotion,
or humor. These will hook the attention of the crowd.
A sharp resolution is important. It must be clear that the story is over.
Subtle, ironic endings can be very confusing. Wrapping up well gives a
sense of satisfaction to all concerned.
A good story is not too long. Any story will die past a certain point.
If your story is a long one, find some exciting points in the middle.
Break the story there, and continue it on successive nights.
If you have a flair for that sort of thing, try weaving your own tales,
perhaps from local legends or local geography. It's probably a good idea
to use existing stories when you're just starting out.
Skills of the storyteller
Whatever else you do, know your story. Trying to memorize it is
probably a mistake. It's very hard work and usually sounds artificial.
The key is to know your outline thoroughly. If you can break the story
into episodes and keep the episodes straight in your head, you can flesh
out each section as though it were a miniature story.
Speak clearly. You need to be loud enough to reach your audience,
but volume is only part of being heard. The other part is clarity. If
you're excited or nervous, you'll start rushing. Your audience will be
lost.
Raise yourself a little. This focuses attention and helps project
your voice. Sit on a high stool, stand on a log or rock. If nothing else,
have the boys sit while you stand.
Practice. Work the story over until you're sure you've got it. Then
try it out on your own kids or use a cassette recorder. This helps work
out kinks and rough transitions. It also helps to slow you down.
Make it clear that you've finished. A definite closure releases the
audience and gets you "off the stage" gracefully. A closure can be as
simple as saying: "Thank you for listening. I hope you enjoyed it."
Some pitfalls to avoid
Storytelling, as an ancient art form, has survived lots of mistakes.
Even so, you'll feel better if your session goes well, and there are
quite a few common problems to avoid.
Don't forget the age of your audience. A spooky story that delights
teenagers might terrorize Tiger Cubs.
Accents, dialects, or special voices are hard to understand and tough
to execute, so they're best left to experienced storytellers. A beginner
is almost certain to use the wrong voice for the wrong character sometime
in the story.
Avoid names of people in your group. It sets up waves of hilarity.
Don't overstay your welcome. Quit while they're still enjoying it.
Teaching storytelling
A good part of Scouting is passing on skills. There will probably be
a few Scouts in any troop who would like to try storytelling. Once you're
comfortable with it, think through ways you can help them.
Consider using the skill instruction time of your meeting for those
who are interested. Ask which stories they've liked, and why; this will
start them thinking on selection standards.
Go over the basic tips and help each select a short story—to
tell to you with only a buddy present. This will make sure each Scout
has his story line straight.
Instruct the Scouts that they are a team for the next session. Each
one is responsible for the success of all the team members, not just
for his own. Everybody will tell his story and get a round of applause.
After each story, each member cites strong points about the delivery.
Then you go over points for improvement in a conference with each
Scout and his buddy.
Scouts pick another story and repeat the process. This time, each
buddy notes areas for improvement.
After that, put them to work! Den or patrol meetings are good
opportunities. Eventually, they may be ready for pack meetings or
troop activities.
Scout storytelling started when Scouting started. Norman Rockwell
made it the subject of two paintings. Many of us remember the dozy
evening, the darkening woods, the light of the fire, and the voice of
the storyteller. Try it out. Years from now, boys grown to manhood may
remember your voice. "A long time ago, not very far from here..."
Kirk House is a member of the National Association of Storytellers.
A Scout father and troop committee member, he lives in Bloomfield, N.Y
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January-February 1997
Copyright © 1997 by the Boy Scouts of America. All rights
thereunder reserved; anything appearing in Scouting magazine or on its
Web site may not be reprinted either wholly or in part without written permission.
Because of freedom given authors, opinions may not reflect official concurrence.
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