关键词:
FOLKLORE
NONFICTION
摘要:
Beginning in the mid-twentieth century, Stith Thompson’s monumentalMotif-Index of Folk Literature(Indiana University Press, 1955–1958) and Antti Aarni and Thompson’sTypes of the Folktale(Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia, 1961) were the indispensable research tools for comparative folklore. Thompson hoped that, through the contributions of many folklorists, his systematic classification of international mythology and popular narratives into thousands of motifs would someday evolve into a comprehensive tale-type index of world *** of the Folktalewas superceded in 2004 by Hans-Jorg Uther’sTypes of International Folktales: A Classification and Bibliography, Based on the System of Antti Aarne and Stith Thompson(Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia). Now Jane Garry and Hasan El-Shamy have coedited a fine updated companion to Thompson’s originalMotif-Index. It is intended to introduce that work to students and others. Their handbook amplifies and augments more than 150 primary folk motifs within Thompson’s “umbrella” headings by offering sixty-six detailed essays by twenty-six specialists. The headings include “Mythical Animals,” “Sex,” “Magic,” “Unnatural Cruelty,” “Marvels,” “Reversals of Fortune,” “The Dead,” “Doubles,” “Tests,” “Deceptions,” “Nature of Life,” and “Society” (the least developed area in theMotif-Index). The handbook fulfills the editors’ stated goals in an engaging, accessible way.A knowledgeable introduction surveys the history and methodologies of comparative folklore, describes the structure of theMotif-Index, summarizes recent developments in folklore, and justifies the new application of Jungian archetypes to motif indexing. (Thompson eschewed psychological principles.) The format is keyed to theMotif-Index’s organization, in incorporates new tale types, offers a clear “How to Use This Book” section, and provides charming, old-fashioned illustrations. These features make the handbook especially attractive for classroom use and ensure its interdisciplinar