Traditional literature is the term used to describe various forms of folklore, stories that come from the oral tradition. They do not have a known originating author, but have been collected and retold by people like the Grimm Brothers. Traditional literature includes folktales, mythology, legends, tall tales, folk songs, nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Fairy tales by known originating authors, such as those by Hans Christian Andersen, are not traditional literature - they are fiction. Folklore may appear as a single illustrated story in picture book format, or a number of stories may be collected into an anthology.

The top line of the call number must be a Dewey Decimal number. If the story is clearly the original work of the author, and is not a retelling, it is NOT traditional literature.

To browse the shelves: in Non-fiction, browse 292  and 398 - 398.9

SEARCH STRATEGIES:

Search the Curriculum Lab Catalog:

SEARCH TYPE : subject heading - enter one of the following words or phrases:

african americans - folklore

ballads

fables

characters in literature (for parodies and derivitives)

fairy tales (not those found in E or F)

folk songs

folklore (folklore is subdivided by country)

indians of north america - folklore

jump rope rhymes

legends

mythology (subdivided by country)

nursery rhymes (includes Mother Goose)

parodies

riddles

tales

tall tales

trickster

 

Example:

To find stories with a particular character:

SEARCH TYPE: Keyword anywhere - enter words/phrases such as these:

Cinderella

Goldilocks

Mother Goose

Rapunzel

Robin Hood

Three little pigs