The Umbrella of Folklore
Many types of stories from the oral tradition fall under the umbrella of folklore.
Myths are origin tales that often explain natural phenomena, emotions, or social occurrences.
Legends are tales that have allegedly occurred and feature heroes and their triumphs.
Folktales and fairy tales reveal human behaviors, attitudes, or foibles; occasionally serve as warnings, and often include magic
Fables often use animals as vehicles for teaching morality.
Parables are meant to educate, often religious in nature.
Drolls are Japanese in origin; they are usually funny "introductory tales" that are told before a longer story
Tall Tales are hyperbolic tales, occasionally sprinkled with truth
Urban Legends are modern tall tales, cautionary in nature
Getting Started with Folktales and Fairy Tales
A Dictionary of English Folklore by ISBN: 9780192100191Searchable database of 1,250 entries drawn from A dictionary of English folklore. Product offers an authoritative resource for descriptions of legends and characters in English folklore, beliefs, oral performances, and calendar customs
Folk and Fairy Tales by ISBN: 9780313328107This reference is a convenient introduction to folk and fairy tales for students and general readers. Ashliman looks at tales from around the world and from diverse cultures. The book defines and classifies folk and fairy tales and analyzes a number of examples. It also studies the varied manifestations of folk and fairy tales in literature and culture, and reviews critical and scholarly approaches to this folklore genre.
The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Folktales and Fairy Tales by ISBN: 9780313334412
Medieval Folklore by ISBN: 9780195147728
Once upon a Folktale by ISBN: 9780807732328
The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales by ISBN: 9780198601159Researchers from scholars to the general public will find this reference source an excellent starting place to find definitions, summaries, authors, artists, and regional and historical overviews of fairy tales, past and present.
Tales, Then and Now by ISBN: 1563088312
The Three Princesses by ISBN: 9780553073683Presents three fairy tales about princesses: Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. Author's notes present historical background on these tales, which occur in many countries. Profusely illustrated with the works of more than twenty-five illustrators over the last one hundred twenty years
Twice upon a Time by ISBN: 9781591583905A guide to fractured, altered, and retold folk and fairy tales
Search strategies
Most folktales and fairy tales come from the oral tradition, meaning their origins are indeterminate - there is no known author. Because of this, many folktales are shelved in the social sciences section of libraries; they are an inextricable part of a culture or society.
The specific call number of most folktales and fairy tales is 398.2. It is here that you will find many familiar stories ("Cinderella", "Little Red Riding Hood") as well as lesser known folktales ("Sense Pass King", a folktale from Cameroon) and cultural variations ("Sugar Cane", a Caribbean version of "Rapunzel").
It is also common for some tales to bleed into 398.3 and 398.4.
I personally recommend browsing these sections - you never know what treat you might come across!
Some folktales and fairy tales do not come from the oral tradition. Rather, they are the product of a specific author. For example, Carl Sandberg wrote a number of American folktales called "Rootabaga Stories".
Because these stories have a traceable origin - that is, their provenance is definite - they are shelved in the 800 section of libraries. It is in this section that you will find stories by Hans Christian Anderson, Oscar Wilde, Jane Yolen, Rudyard Kipling, and others. The specific call number varies by both geographic region and time period.
Teacher Guides
- Readers Theatre for Beginning Readers / Suzanne I. BarchersProvides scripts for more than 20 folktales and fables from around the world.
Pop Culture Library
The Browne Popular Culture Library on the 4th floor of the Jerome Library also has an extensive collection of folktales and folktale encyclopedias.
Librarian
Head Librarian, Curriculum Resource Center
Jerome Library
Bowling Green State University