Customer Reviews

FUNK & WAGNALLS STANDARD DICTIONARY OF FOLKLORE, MYTHOLOGY AND LEGEND (TWO VOLUMES)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This reference work is not specific to any particular mythos, pantheon, or people, but encompasses beliefs of the entire world. If one wishes to be as general as fire, or as obscure as rakshasa, he will find what he is looking for: and if not, this will tell him he needs a resource more specific to what he is after.

Everyone interested in the myth beneath the story needs to own a copy of this book. I've consulted it for decades and can't imagine my library without it. Though it has odd lapses, its coverage of world mythology is awe-inspiring and its usefulness for investigating the full outline of recurring myths is endless.

these books you must. I have read enough reviews here to know that people dole out 5 stars with impugnity (the ones that don't like certain books don't bother to look at other reviews of them) and realize that the rating system here is meaningless (not because of Amazon), but if you have ANY interest in the serious study of mythology, these books, edited by Maria Leach, are a necessity; look thru whatever foul paperbacks pretending to be concerned with mythology you own and notice they all reference this grand work, full of SCHOLARLY treatise on a vast array of subjects. And they are fantastic reading in sortes fashion; to just open randomly and read whatever your finger touches. Nuff said.

This is the kind of book that you can randomly flip through and always find something interesting, and can read about customs and ideas that are totally different than one's own. The diversity among human beliefs is indeed amazing and is an indication that the human mind adapts and invents concepts that are very different depending on the situation in which individuals find themselves. On the other hand, there are common themes in all of these myths that point to the necessity for the employment of certain concepts that are universal. A gigantic book, it probably would only be read from cover to cover by those who intend to specialize in the study of mythology both from an anthropological and historical point of view. But it is fair to bet that anyone who opens this book will walk away with a deeper appreciation of all human cultures, wherever they may be, and at all levels of technological development.

Lack of space prohibits a detailed review of all the articles I read, but some of the more interesting entries that I ran across include: 1. "Ababinili". This is the name of the supreme being of the Chickasaw Indians, and the god of the fire apart from the Sun. This belief is an indication again that the concept of an ultimate being is pretty universal among all cultures. Apparently the Chickasaws believed that Ababinili caused a great flood also, although this fact is not discussed in this article. 2. "abdominal dance". An article discussing the origin of "belly dance", as it is called in some cultures. Interestingly, in some areas it was not done as a seductive movement or to provoke a sexual response. In Asia for example, it was symbolic of the pain of motherhood. 3. "African and New World Negro folklore". The author discusses the "Tortoise and the Hare" story which interestingly was held by some African peoples. He compares it with the European version, with the tortoise winning in both versions. However, in the African version, the tortoise wins by employing his wits. This "brains over brawn" version of this story is fascinating given the bias towards logical thinking in European culture. 4. "bagpipe". The origin of bagpipes goes back to the emperor Nero, who reportedly played it. Bagpipes were played by the Romans in their colonization of Britain. 5. "barber's pole". There was a time when barbers were also surgeons, thus the red and white strips on the pole: white for bandages to symbolize the healing process. 6. "chain tale". This is a folktale based on a series of numbers, characters, events, etc. Supposedly the game of chess originated in a chain tale involving numbers in geometric progression. The inventor requested in payment one grain of wheat for the first square, two for the second, four for the third, eight for the fourth, and so on. 7. "Dalai Lama". The Tibetian monk of highest rank, who is the incarnation of Avalokita, whose spirit passes into a child at the death of each Dalai Lama. 8. "euphemism". This came from the belief that if you speak of the Devil he will appear. Hence one must refer to him by another name: a euphemism. The origin of the name "Jehovah" was also such a euphemism, since uttering the name of the Hebrew god was forbidden. 9. "female rain". Among some North American Indian tribes, this is a soft, gentle rain; to be contrasted with a downpour, which is "male rain" (How then did hurricanes become to be name after women?). 10. "games". This is an excellent article, too long to summarize here. 11. "grateful dead". Folktake in which a hero runs into a group of people who are refusing to bury the corpse of a deadbeat man. The hero makes good the debts, and later is rewarded with happiness. 12. "holler". A spontaneous, improvised song by American slaves engaging in solitary work. Usually with no words, it was meant to keep oneself company. 13. "jack-o-lantern". In some legends, This is a phosphorescent light frequently observed above marshes. The author describes many more. 14. "kitchen gods". The thousands of paper images representing Tsao Chun, the Chinese god of the kitchen stove. 15. "looking tabu". The act of looking at a forbidden object or person will cause its loss. 16. "magical inpregnation". A child conceived via some act or circumstance which has no connection with fertilization. Very common in mythology, the author gives several very interesting examples. 17. "mending the jug". A folktale based on a task considered impossible and always associated with an impossible countertask. 18. "mnemonic device". This is an excellent article, too long to summarize here, of the strategies employed by different cultures to remember or recollect things. Particularly interesting was the use of them when no language or mathematical systems were in place. 19. "momentary gods". These, interestingly, are gods who exist only for a special purpose and for a limited time, and then only at special places. 20. "need fire". This was a ceremony wherein fire was made when livestock were threatened with plague. 21. "never-finished weaving". The Shawnee Indian tale of the female creator who weaves a basket which is unraveled every night. Finishing the job will cause the world's end. 22. "orchesis". The Greek word for dance, which was considered indispensable in Greek drama. 23. "orgia". The winter ritual dedicated to Dionysus, and involving after sometime to what the author describes as "unbridled, licentious mass intoxication". He describes similar types of ceromonies in the West Indies, Indian peyote cults, and in Mexico. 24. "overlooking". This is the act of one who casts the "evil eye", a belief that according to the author is world-wide and found from earliest times. 25. "paternity test". An infant magically picking out his unknown father. The author gives several different tests employed by many different cultures. 26. "primitive and folk art". A very long but excellent article on all kinds. 27."scalp dances". These were American Indian "victory" dances done around the enemies scalps. Apparently in some tribes the scalps were considered tabu and contained supernatural powers.

This is an EXCELLENT resource for the student of folklore, mythology, the occult, or anyone interested in the origin of our stories, myths, legends, and important symbologies. Reformatting of the book from the original text provides the reader with a more smooth and thorough definition. Useful illustrations come in handy as well when a visual guide is necessary. All in all a great addition to my occult library.

I have owned a copy of this reference book for many years. Although somewhat dated, it remains solid scholarship. Recently, when my adolescent niece expressed an interest in myth and legend, I ordered a copy for her because I could not part with mine. This dictionary of myth and folklore reports things I never thought I would need to know, such as types of magic and sources of legends. Did you know that bibliomancy is the name of the practice of divining the future by flipping through a Bible or other sacred book and pointing to a passage? This dictionary includes an extensive range of entries, among them are: duck dance, dogheaded people, fearsome critters, eeny-meeny-miny-mo, Gog and Magog, incubus, happy hunting ground, lizard, midsummer men, mandrake, wampum, tongue twisters, soul cakes, and wanga. If you are curious, this dictionary is indispensible.

Eclectic collection of folklore, mth, and legend. Missing some commonly obtainable information; many obscure and obstruse inclusions. A must for the person who wants an easily accessible assortment of information.

I had an interest in folklore as a child and collected books on the topic until I was around 20, my interest was rekindled a couple years ago (I'm now 31) and I can only say this is a book I wish I'd discovered back then! This is THE book I would recommend if you only want one reference on the topic of folklore and mythology from an international perspective.

This dictionary is written for the general reader, and "obscure" practices and customs from foreign countries are explained so anyone can gleam information from them. The articles (8,000+) are interesting, well-written and just a pleasure to read. There's a balance struck between the coverage of legends, folk beliefs, superstitions, customs and ancient mythology. (Mythology is covered, but this is not simply another tired book of myths -- folklore is the primary focus.) This is a great source of information on superstitions from all cultures. Common folktales are not re-told but summarized with variations given as one would expect in an encyclopedia. Articles on individual countries and places like India, China, Germany, the Pennsylvania Dutch and others are long and informative.

This is a browsers dream, at 1,236 pages (1972 ed.) and large double columned (and small print) this tome feels absolutely stuffed with information. Even as someone who has read about folklore for much of his life, when I flip through this text I learn something new and interesting every time. Connections across cultures are often made. For example, I thought "sin-eating" was only a western practice, observed primarily in Britain and America, but it talks about the practice's own idiosyncrasies in India, Bavaria and Australia.

A final thing I will praise this book for is not spending a lot of time covering folklorists themselves. Many folklore encyclopedias seem half taken up by covering authors of folklore books - I don't know about you, but that's not what I want to read when I take up a book like this, and this book thankfully avoids this almost entirely. My interest is primarily in American folklore, but I have to admit this book sparks my interest in other cultures as well when I read it.

Aside from not including Ut-napishtim in the "Flood" section of this tome, this book is spectacular. Using the Arne-Thompson Tale-Type format, Funk and Wagnall's did a great job compiling a fun-to-read and fascinating book. Kids should have this in bed with them at night, seeing just how interconnected all our stories actually are.
A great, fun, read.

The Folklore book was in good condition upon its arrival. The description by the seller is accurate. We received it in a timely manner and are very pleased with the seller's response to our purchase.