A Guide to Folktales in the English Language: Based on the Aarne-Thompson Classification System (Bibliographies and Indexes in World Literature) [Hardcover]

D. L. Ashliman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 1987 | ISBN-10: 0313259615 | ISBN-13: 978-0313259616

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (September 22, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313259615
• ISBN-13: 978-0313259616
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,958,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource that should be in most reference collections, March 30, 2000

By 

Heidi Anne Heiner (SurLaLune Fairy Tales.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Guide to Folktales in the English Language: Based on the Aarne-Thompson Classification System (Bibliographies and Indexes in World Literature) (Hardcover)

In his book, Ashliman has collected lists of the variants of tales available in respected English language collections of fairy tales. This is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to find variations from different cultures of tales such as Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast. Since all of the collections are in English, the book is greatly abbreviated and easier to use than the Stith-Thompson set, although it conveniently uses the same classification system. I often have people asking for the types of lists Ashliman has thoughtfully combined in this one volume. I am always disappointed when it is not available in the reference section of a library I am using or visiting.