The Folklore Muse

Poetry, Fiction, and Other Reflections by Folklorists

Frank de Caro

• Publisher: Utah State University Press
• Year: 2008
• Print ISBN: 9780874217261
• eBook ISBN: 9780874217278
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literature General
• Index: Literature

Folklore—the inherently creative expression, transmission, and performance of cultural traditions—has always provided a deep well of material for writers, musicians, and artists of all sorts. Folklorists usually employ descriptive and analytical prose, but they, like scholars in other social sciences, have increasingly sought new, creative and reflexive modes of discourse. Many folklorists are also creative writers, some well known as such, and the folk traditions they research often provide shape and substance to their work. This collection of creative writing grounded in folklore and its study brings together some of the best examples of such writing.

Contributors to this collection include Teresa Bergen, John Burrison, Norma E. Cantu, Frank de Caro, Holly Everett, Danusha Goska, Neil R. Grobman, Carrie Hertz, Edward Hirsch, Laurel Horton, Rosan Augusta Jordan, Paul Jordan-Smith, Elaine J. Lawless, Cynthia Levee, Jens Lund, Mary Magoulick, Bernard McCarthy, Joanne B. Mulcahy, Kirin Narayan, Ted Olson, Daniel Peretti, Leslie Prosterman, Jo Radner, Susan Stewart, Jeannie Banks Thomas, Jeff Todd Titon, Libby Tucker, Margaret Yocom, and Steve Zeitlin.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• The Folklorist’s Endeavor: An Introduction
• Being or Becoming a Folklorist
• Fieldwork, Folk Communities, Informants
• Performance
• The Powers of Narrative
• Legend and Myth
• Material Traditions, Material Things
• Children’s Lore and Language
• Ritual and Custom
• Worldview and Belief
• Notes
• Contributors