Encyclopedia of Folklore and Literature

(Hardback)

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Description

From the epics of Homer to the novels of J.R.R. Tolkien and Toni Morrison, from the Bible to the blues, much of the most beloved literature of the world is rooted in traditional tales, customs and beliefs. This is an illustrated guide to the impact of folk culture across the globe and throughout history. More than 300 entries treat authors, works, concepts, terms, motifs, characters, themes, movements, and regional literary traditions.

Reviews

"Highly recommended." - The Book Report "Thorough-going yet concise, this reference fills an important need ... Highly recommended for all academic collections as a reference that affords a glimpse into the soul of folk narration." - Library Journal "The intelligent articles should prove useful to students of the folktale, to anyone looking for a fresh approach to the classics, or for multicultural views of the art of storytelling." - School Library Journal "The encyclopedia serves a highly useful purpose in addition to offering a pleasant place to leap and linger. The entries give scholars a quick means by which they can gain a basic understanding of terms, concepts, ideas, and important figures, and they also provide a starting list of references that can provide a valuable entree into further study." - Journal of Folklore Research

Author Bio

Mary Ellen Brown, PhD, is professor of folklore at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN and editor of the Journal of Folklore Research. Bruce A. Rosenberg, PhD, is professor of American studies and English at Brown University, Providence, RI.