Resources
General Storytelling Resources:
Genres in Literature (PB Wiki created by Judi Moreillon)
Indigenous Peoples Resources
Winter and Christmas Stories
TALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
This site aims to make children's literature available in the public domain available online. That includes all works first published before 1923. Search by genre on the left-hand menu and scroll down to Fairy Tales to link to full-text.
Links for reading and research, including a list of sites devoted entirely to a single tale (such as Little Red Riding Hood or Snow White).
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General Folklore Resources
(retrieved from: http://www.supersummary.com/%20folklore-mythology-guide/)
If you want to learn more about folklore, these general resources are a great pace to start. They include comprehensive, wide-ranging resources, as well as study and research resources.
Find more than 500 articles and explanations about folklore concepts and characters from around the globe. This site also hosts a wide selection of folktales, including those of Native American, European and Asian origin.
This is a searchable database of interviews about a wide variety of topics that comprise folklore in many different cultures, such as folk beliefs, speech, dance and more, as well as folk myths and legends. Maintained by the University of Southern California, this is a great research resource for anyone looking for primary sources on folklore.
This site, administered by the Library of Congress, is a great research resource. It provides a state-by-state guide to folk culture resources, as well as educational resources and more.
Prepare to show off your knowledge of folklore – especially folktales – with this study guide, which includes flashcards, quizzes and more.
This guide from the university of Missouri will help you memorize and study general folklore information. It provides varying definitions of folklore through the decades and answers questions, such as “Who are the folk” and “Why are there so many definitions of folklore?”
Folktale Resources
While folklore is a broad category that encompasses arts and crafts, performance, medicine and more, the term folklore is most strongly associated with the folktale – a story passed down from generation to generation usually told for the purpose of imparting wisdom, advice or warnings, or to explain natural phenomenon. Below is a collection of resources to learn more about folktales from around the globe.
Before you dive into reading folktales, check out this helpful introduction to the major elements of a folktale, including characters, setting and plot. Most folktales you encounter will share these elements.
As its name indicates, this site offers a rich and growing collection of fairy tales – also known as folktales – from around the world. Search tales by geographic origin or author.
This site is a comprehensive collection folktales from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Most of the stories here are rendered in short-form, making them quick to read and easy to digest.
This site provides background information on 15 major characters of the folktales of the United States, such as the giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan, keeper of the blue ox, Babe, and Casey Jones, the historical railroad engineer who has inspired ballads and tall tales. Also, find definitions to key folklore terms and information about prominent folklorists.
This 1946 pictorial map provides a visual representation of folklore in the United States with prominent folklore characters superimposed on the various states and regions they are associated with – from the Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County in California to Rip Van Winkle in the Catskill Mountains of New York.
Read several Mexican folktales that have been passed down through the generations. Each story has side-by-side Spanish and English versions, and each includes detailed notes and analysis.
Common folktales from a dozen Asian countries are featured on this site, including tales from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam.
This site features a collection of more than two-dozen folktales popular in Nigeria. Anthropomorphic animals are prominently featured in these stories – especially the tortoise, often portrayed as a cunning trickster. A small glossary of West African terms is included.
Europe has a rich folk tradition. This site includes several full-length European folktales originating from the Celtic, Germanic, Romanic and Slavic languages.
Additional Folklore Resources
Folklore comprises much more than just folktales. It includes folk art and dance, and even folk medicine. Check out the resources below to learn more about these other aspects of folklore.
This article provides a primer on the genre of folk art. The article admits that folk art is “difficult to pin down,” but, with the consultation of experts, does a good job of doing just that.
Here’s another great folk art resource. This site provides a definition of folk art, as well as a history of the genre, examples and much more
Explore the collection of New York’s Folk Art Museum. The museum’s website includes high-resolution images of the many books, paintings, textiles and other works of folk art in its collection.
The Society of Folk Dance provides an overview of the types and origin of folk dances, including elaborate ceremonial dances, recreational dances and the enduring nature of folk dance.
Learn more about popular folk dances from around the world with photos and descriptions of 10 prominent folk dances.
Like folktales, folk medicine has been passed down from generation to generation. While modern medicine is based on scientific research, folk medicine grew out of observing the natural world and trial and error. This article provides a thorough overview of the history of folk medicine.
Egyptian Mythology Resources
Thousands of years ago, the ancient Egyptians formed one of the earliest civilizations. It is a civilization known for its rich culture and mythology. See the resources below to learn more about the mythology of ancient Egypt.
This is a comprehensive guide to the mythology of ancient Egypt, including content on major myths, legends and folktales, common symbols of art and religion, geographical information and much more.
Find more than 200 articles and explanations about the concepts, characters and deities of Egyptian mythology – from Abydos (the burial spot of the god Osiris) to Zenenet (an Egyptian goddess).
The Egyptian pantheon included countless gods and goddesses. Some were worshiped by the entire civilization, while the worship of others was exclusive to individual cities or villages, or even individual households. This site offers a great introduction to Egyptian deities.
Despite its macabre name, this text was actually a map of sorts to lead ancient Egyptians successfully to the afterlife. This site provides a popular translation. Check out What is the Book of the Dead? for more context and background on the text.
Greek Mythology Resources
The ancient Greeks created a complex mythology of gods, goddesses, heroes and monsters. Many of the words and concepts familiar to us today trace their origins to Greek mythology. Learn more about Greek mythology by checking out the resources below.
Read this article, which includes companion videos, for a great overview of Greek Mythology, including its sources and it major players.
Billing itself as the No. 1 Greek Mythology Website, GreekMythology.com features articles about the gods, heroes, mortals, monsters and myths of Greek mythology – and a whole lot more.
This article defines Greek mythology and discusses the creation and telling of myths within the tradition. It also includes a sidebar timeline of major events related to Greek mythology.
Read some of the most widely told myths of Greek mythology that feature characters, such as Zeus, Hera, Hades, Hercules and many more.
Atlas, titanic, narcissism – many of the words we use today are rooted in Greek mythology. This study guide includes flash cards and more for 25 of those words.
This page provides information about literature in ancient Greece, along with biographies of major poets and writers of the period and synopses of their works.
Roman Mythology Resources
Roman mythology borrows a lot from the Greeks. While Roman deities have Latin names, many of them share the same roles and characteristics as their Greek counterparts – such is the case with the Roman Jupiter and the Greek Zeus. Learn more about Roman mythology from the sources below.
Find more than 300 articles and explanations about the concepts, characters and deities of Roman mythology – from Abundantia (the Roman goddess of abundance) to Vulcan (the god of fire).
Check out information about literature in ancient Rome, along with biographies of major poets, playwrights and writers of the period and synopses of their major works.
This site discusses the major gods of Roman Mythology, including Jupiter, the king of the gods; Mars, the god of war; and Bacchus, the god of wine.
Many Roman gods have their roots in Greek gods that preceding them. This handy list of Roman gods includes their Greek counterparts and brief descriptions of what aspect of life or nature each god oversaw.
This entry explores Roman mythology, including myths about the origins of Rome, and discusses the connection between Roman mythology and that of the Greeks.
Norse Mythology Resources
Gods and goddesses, dragons and dwarfs, mighty frost giants and a serpent that circles the world – Norse mythology is packed with brutal battles, terrifying creatures and epic sagas. The resources below will guide you through the rich mythology of the Vikings.
This site is a comprehensive resource for Norse mythology. It includes detailed articles on deities, creatures, legends and Norse mythology concepts, in addition to other information.
Come here for information about important Norse gods and goddesses, including Odin, Loki and the Valkyries (which inspired “Ride of the Valkyries” by composer Richard Wagner).
Find more than 140 articles and explanations about the concepts, characters and deities of Norse mythology – from Aegir (the sea god) to Yggdrasil (a giant ash tree that holds all worlds together).
This blog includes up-to-date information about all aspects of Norse mythology and it’s enduring legacy.
Folklore and Mythology Podcasts
These podcasts use technology to continue the oral tradition associated with the dissemination of myths, folktales and legends.
Folklore researcher and host Mark Norman examines folk traditions, customs and themes. Episodes often feature prominent folklorists.
Tune in each week to hear myths and legends re-told and interpreted.
Subscribe to this podcast for “myths, folklore, and legend from throughout history and from all over the world.”
This podcast takes listeners on “a journey through the myths and history of ancient Greece and Rome.”
