Guide to Folktales in the English Language - (Bibliographies and Indexes in World Literature) by D L Ashliman (Hardcover)

About the Book

Students of folklore and storytellers will find this new guide useful. Ashliman has followed the Aarne-Thompson classification system fairly closely in his geographical classification and his tale type headings. . . . Ashliman's main aim is to `help readers find reliable texts of any given folktale, not only in its best-known version, but also in less familiar variants.' There are cross-references from one tale type to another, a complete listing of Grimm's 200 tales with type classifications as an appendix, and an index of best-known titles and key words from typical plots. Choice

A Guide to Folktales in the English Language is designed to assist both the folklore specialist and the general reader in locating the texts of folktales published in collections. Author D.L.Ashliman follows the widely accepted type classification established by folklorists Annti Aarne and Stith Thompson and last revised in 1961, organizing more than 5,000 stories and episodes under some 1,000 basic plots. Each plot is presented in capsule form, followed by the titles and essential bibliographic data of published variants. The result is a comprehensive overview of all major European folktales that will be invaluable for students of folklore, literature, and popular culture.

Book Synopsis

Students of folklore and storytellers will find this new guide useful. Ashliman has followed the Aarne-Thompson classification system fairly closely in his geographical classification and his tale type headings. . . . Ashliman's main aim is to `help readers find reliable texts of any given folktale, not only in its best-known version, but also in less familiar variants.' There are cross-references from one tale type to another, a complete listing of Grimm's 200 tales with type classifications as an appendix, and an index of best-known titles and key words from typical plots. Choice

A Guide to Folktales in the English Language is designed to assist both the folklore specialist and the general reader in locating the texts of folktales published in collections. Author D.L.Ashliman follows the widely accepted type classification established by folklorists Annti Aarne and Stith Thompson and last revised in 1961, organizing more than 5,000 stories and episodes under some 1,000 basic plots. Each plot is presented in capsule form, followed by the titles and essential bibliographic data of published variants. The result is a comprehensive overview of all major European folktales that will be invaluable for students of folklore, literature, and popular culture.

Review Quotes

?Students of folklore and storytellers will find this new guide useful. Ashliman has followed the Aarne-Thompson classification system fairly closely in his geographical classification and his tale type headings. To improve it he has revised Thompson's verbal descriptions to the types ... to better describe the variants that are currently available in English, ' has incorporated several new numbers proposed by other scholars and collectors for the Aarne-Thompson system, and has included two bibliographies, one of books about folklore and folktales, the other an up-to-date list of folktale collections. Ashliman's main aim is to help readers find reliable texts of any given folktale, not only in its best-known version, but also in less familiar variants.' There are cross-references from one tale type to another, a complete listing of Grimm's 200 tales with type classifications as an appendix, and an index of best-known titles and key words from typical plots.... For libraries, even those that own Antti Aarne's The Types of the Folktale?-Choice

"Students of folklore and storytellers will find this new guide useful. Ashliman has followed the Aarne-Thompson classification system fairly closely in his geographical classification and his tale type headings. To improve it he has revised Thompson's verbal descriptions to the types ... to better describe the variants that are currently available in English, ' has incorporated several new numbers proposed by other scholars and collectors for the Aarne-Thompson system, and has included two bibliographies, one of books about folklore and folktales, the other an up-to-date list of folktale collections. Ashliman's main aim is to help readers find reliable texts of any given folktale, not only in its best-known version, but also in less familiar variants.' There are cross-references from one tale type to another, a complete listing of Grimm's 200 tales with type classifications as an appendix, and an index of best-known titles and key words from typical plots.... For libraries, even those that own Antti Aarne's The Types of the Folktale"-Choice

About the Author

D. L.ASHLIMAN is Associate Professor of German at the University of Pittsburgh.