The Appalachian "Tale of Red Emmy" presented in the novel "Oral History" by Lee Smith (1983), reveals both an Irish origin and an American transformation. Granny Younger, one of Smith's narrators, tells of a curse visited on four generations of the Cantrell family after Almarine Cantrell chanced upon the witch Red Emmy in the…

This article is a poignant commentary on the connection of the Native Hawaiian people with the past, the present, and the future. In this article, the author positions himself within the histories of his people. He talks about putting faces to his ancestors by linking them with the people of his day, and he talks about reconstructing the…

This briefly annotated bibliography of selected children's books and recordings is a salute to the International Year of the Child. Included in its listings is a section highlighting some translations and representative publications from other countries; these depict a range of mores from Edwardian England to that of the Aborigines of Australia. A…

Discusses some of the best of the vast amount of folklore that has been published in 1989 and early 1990. Identifies and annotates 45 children's books and 10 poetry collections. (MG)

This selective bibliography, written as a guide to scholarship on Chaucer and related subjects, attempts to cover the major works and topics, with emphasis on work published in the 20th century. Omitted are school editions, short articles on minor points, popular and semi-popular books and articles, and unpublished doctoral dissertations. General…

To know the culture of a nation one must try to understand the emotional side of a people's character. In considering Russian culture, a study of politics, economics, and geography is insufficient for even beginning to understand the subtleties of the national character. Despite 60 years of Soviet regime, traditional Russian values persist and are…

A discussion of the life and work of Yaqui poet Refugio Savala includes analysis of selected poems, "corridos," and original and traditional tales. The article includes a discussion of the style, content, tone, and background of his English language autobiography and explains the editing which occurred prior to its publication. (SB)

The thesis of this study is that the secondary school American literature curriculum in a particular region should include the cultural heritage of that region as reflected in its oral literature. In this study, aspects of the growth of a distinctive American humor are traced from colonial times to the present along the eastern seaboard, with…

From ancient stories of creation to contemporary poetry and prose, this volume ranges through thousands of years of the literature of the American Indian. Chapter One of the book deals with pre-Columbian religions and features accounts of the Creation by the Cheyenne, Navajo, Omaha, Yakima, Zuni, and Uitoto. Chapter Two has as its theme folk…

Ranch hands gathered around a campfire and old folks rocking on the porch were some of the sources for the 10 folkloric tales presented in this volume. Written in both Spanish and English, this book of traditional tales from the Mexican American people of South Texas is the first of a series of three volumes. Five of the stories deal with the…

Included in this entirely bilingual (Spanish and English) text are 10 traditional tales from the Southwest intended to promote interest in bilingual/bicultural programs and to preserve the colorful folklore of the area. The stories, with black and white illustrations, involve folklore ("The Poor Little Naked Bird", "The Devil Takes…

Fourth in a series of bilingual (Spanish and English) texts intended to promote interest in bilingual/bicultural programs and to preserve the colorful folklore of the Southwest, this text contains 10 traditional tales from the area. Accompanied by black and white illustrations, the tales concern local legends and personalities ("Thunder…

Six short Mexican folk tales for children are presented in Spanish and English. Each version is presented in its own booklet. The stories are illustrated with full-page black and white drawings. "The Man Who Owned the Bees" is a story about four boys who encounter Xachan'achin, the owner of the bees in the forest. "The Magic Lady of the Water" is…

Local history and legends of spirits appear often in this bilingual Spanish and English collection of 10 Southwest traditional tales, intended to promote interest in bilingual/bicultural programs and to preserve the colorful folklore of the area. Black and white drawings accompany the stories which deal with animals ("A Parrot for…

The oral literature of the Navajo people generally falls into two categories: the sacred stories and the folk tales, which often, but not always, point a moral. Sacred stories relate the Navajo's emergence history. These stories tell how the universe holds two kinds of people: the "Earth Surface People" (both living and dead) and the…