Story: A Handbook

Folklore is the cultural expression of a people, and it makes up key elements of the stories they tell. Using easily accessible language, this book defines, separates, and gracefully weaves together story and folklore. From the ancient world of traveling bards in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, to the contemporary world of storytelling festivals, fan fiction, and digital story conferences, this reference unravels confusion between concepts of folklore and story, and demonstrates how they are linked. Included are numerous examples and texts, a review of critical approaches, and a discussion of story in literature and popular culture.

Story informs folklore, and folklore informs story. The complex relationship between them is compounded by many definitions and points of view generated by scholars over time. Humans construct their sense of the world through story, vernacular transmission, and folklore. Folklore is the cultural expression of people, and it makes up the key elements of the stories they tell. Written for high school students and general readers, this reference conveniently overviews story as a folklore genre.

Author: Jacqueline Thursby
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 05/01/2006
Pages: 200
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.98lbs
Size: 9.54h x 6.10w x 0.79d
ISBN: 9780313334306

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 08/01/2006 pg. 102

About the Author

Jacqueline S. Thursby is Associate Professor of English at Brigham Young University, where she specializes in folklore studies. Her previous books include Mother's Table, Father's Chair: Cultural Narratives of Basque American Women (1999).