Taking common folktales, she weaves these in with her views on life into an enduring work. She expounds on these tales in graphic detail by utilizing her personal style. By this we can assume she favors black folklore, women's issues, and discussions of accepted moral standards. These are some major themes in Sula. In this paper, I will discuss how these themes are the foundation for this novel and provide a summary of my opinions.
Folktales are a type of oral prose that is passed from one person to another.
Listeners may chose to add or subtract from the main story lines, embellishing with experiences and wisdom from their own lives. It then takes on the collective morals, or conscienceness, of that culture. From those individuals who we normally would not consider cultured, great gems of knowledge and wisdom are passed down through folktales. This is done without the traditional use of written language or use of proper organizational style. Typically, folktales are set in believable surroundings with extraordinary people.