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Motif-Index of Folk-Literature: A Classification of Narrative Elements in Folk Tales, Ballads, Myths, Fables, Medieval Romances, Exempla, Fabliaux,Jest Books and Local Legends

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Thompson's 'Motif Index" (multi volume set)is a classic in folklore scholarship. Every student of folklore studies necessarily needs to handle this reference sources which catalogues and categorizes folk tales, legends and other "narratives" in terms of "motifs". One folktale can have many motifs. The study of motifs is important to trace the "history" of the tale and its variants. SRS/PR

This set of books classify all known myths and folk tales, in terms of both story and motif. Invariably, any book analyzing myths will simply use Thompson's notation (Aa ###) whenever placing the myths discussed in a multi-cultural or syncretic context. For an understanding of Thompson's work rather than referencing the literally encyclopedic result, see _Types_of_the_Folktale_.

This is a classic bibliographic work of folklore scholarship by one of the founders of the academic discipline. Even though other scholars went on to put together similar regional reference, no other volume has the scope of this one. It was and is one of the basic necessities for any academic reference library.

In its original incarnation, the "Motif Index" was a set of multiple volumes, each one more unwieldy than the next. A single search might easily require shuffling back and forth between several volumes. It's good to see that all these volumes have been combined onto one CD. That should make using the Index a much easier process.