Oral tradition English folktale
The story of a man who wants his luck to change - but is slow to notice when it has with disastrous consequences..
Story
A man bemoans the fact that he is always unlucky. He goes to see a wise woman and on the way meets a wolf, a tree and a woman who all have questions of their own. The wise woman tells him that luck is all around but he is too busy looking for it to notice what is all around.
Why we chose it
This was part of the original Story Museum audio stories collection. It is a favourite of many story tellers with great characters to voice and a twist at the end.
Where it went next
The story was retold by storyteller Katrice Horsley in English Folktales edited by Dan Keding and Amy Douglas. It is included in 147 Traditional Stories for Primary School Children to Retell by Chris Smith
Associated stories
There are many folk stories about foolish people from all over the world. Other English examples include The Three Sillies, The Village of Fools, The Wise Men of Gotham, and The Moonrakers, a story which is claimed by many parts of the country as far apart as Wiltshire and Greater Manchester.
Oral tradition English folktale