"This introduction to the study of folklore and folklife contains an inspiring and spirited mixture of essays, theoretical contributions, practical instructions, and pure encyclopedia articles. It is a very well put together book, written by eighteen researchers who have something to say. One can see here that it is competent educators who have come forward and are narrating. . . . All in all it is a very use-oriented handbook with attractive typography and layout."Iorn Pio, Journal of American Folklore

Richard M. Dorson (1916-1981) was Distinguished Professor of History and Folklore and director of the Folklore Institution at Indiana University.

Preface - Richard M. Dorson

Introduction: Concepts of Folklore and Folklife Studies - Richard M. Dorson

I. The Fields of Folklife Studies

Oral Folklore

1. Folk Narrative - Linda Dégh

2. Narrative Folk Poetry - W. Edson Richmond

3. Folk Epic - Felix J. Oinas

4. Proverbs and Proverbial Expressions - Roger D. Abrahams

5. Riddles - Roger D. Abrahams and Alan Dundes

6. Folk Speech - W. Edson Richmond

Social Folk Custom

7. Festivals and Celebrations - Robert J. Smith

8. Recreations and Games - Robert A. Georges

9. Folk Medicine - Don Yoder

10. Folk Religion - John C. Messenger

Material Culture

11. Folk Crafts - Warren E. Roberts

12. Folk Art - Henry Glassie

13. Folk Architecture - Warren E. Roberts

14. Folk Costume - Don Yoder

15. Folk Cookery - Don Yoder

Folk Arts

16. Folk Drama - Roger D. Abrahams

17. Folk Music - George List

18. Folk Dance - Joann Wheeler Kealiinohomoku

II. The Methods of Folklife Study

1. Fieldwork: Collecting Oral Literature - Donald A. MacDonald

2. Fieldwork: Recording Material Culture - Warren E. Roberts

3. Fieldwork: Recording Traditional Music - George List

4. Archiving - George List

5. The Use of Printed Sources - Richard M. Dorson

6. Folk Atlas Mapping - Robert Wildhaber

7. The Use of Artifacts and Folk Art in the Folk Museum - J. Geraint Jenkins

8. The Cultural Geographer and Folklife Research - E. Estyn Evans

Contributors

Index