Famous collectors of folktales

Charles Perrault--France (Tales of Mother Goose)

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm--Germany

Peter Asbjornsen and Jorgen Moe--Norway

Joseph Jacobs--England

A. N. Afanasyev--Russia

Harold Courlander—Africa

↑Mother Goose

In 1697 Charles Perrault used the name Mother Goose in a published collection of eight fairy tales which included "The Sleeping Beauty" and "Cinderella." The book was the Histories and Tales of Long Ago, with Morals. Inside the book, an old woman at a spinning wheel, telling stories adorned the frontispiece. Underneath the picture were the words, Contes de la Mere l'Oye. In English: Tales of My Mother the Goose. This was the first recorded mention of the name. Mother Goose Rhymes are from many sources, passed down in folklore fashion, some were penned by famous authors, and disseminated by publishers, generally without author attribution. Among the favorite rhymes are "Jack Be Nimble" and "Little Jack Horner."

Babushka's Mother Goose (Philomel, 1995)

Retold and illus. by Patricia Polacco

Inner City Mother Goose (Simon & Schuster, 1996)

Retold by Eve Merriam. Illus. by David Diaz

Tomie de Paola's Mother Goose Favorites (Putnam, 1985)

Retold and illus. by Tomie de Paola

ІІІ. Traditional Literature Other than Folktales

Traditional literature (or folklore) is defined as stories or sayings which have been passed down in the oral tradition (that is, by word of mouth), often for generations; it includes folktales, but it also includes several other types of oral material.

Folk Wit and Wisdom

Several types of folklore include short sayings or very short stories, which often display humor and/or wisdom.

Jests (jokes)

· Jokes or jests are very short humorous stories, usually with only one incident.

· Jokes are probably the most common form of folklore prevalent in our society today; almost everyone hears jokes and then repeats them to other people.

· Jokes may circulate for years; sometimes with slight changes, sometimes intact.

· Jokes may circulate orally and then appear in print; they may also appear first in print, and then enter oral circulation.