Folktales of the Amazon


Book Description

Provides folktales from Amazonian fishermen, hunters, lodgers, small plot farm gardeners, and villagers in Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. The kinds of tales are as follows: Tales of origin, Tales about anacondas and boas, Tales about dolphins and other Aquatic Seducers, Tales of beasts and Forest Defenders, Tales of dark and malevolent Shamans, Tales of Punishment for ill behavior, and Tales of special places, plants, and Birds.




The Tree of Life: An Amazonian Folk Tale


Book Description

This book tells the story of the Tree of Life, a traditional Amazonian folk tale. In it, the people of an Amazonian village learn the importance of taking care of nature and the dangers of being too greedy.




Folktales and Fairy Tales [4 volumes]


Book Description

Encyclopedic in its coverage, this one-of-a-kind reference is ideal for students, scholars, and others who need reliable, up-to-date information on folk and fairy tales, past and present. Folktales and fairy tales have long played an important role in cultures around the world. They pass customs and lore from generation to generation, provide insights into the peoples who created them, and offer inspiration to creative artists working in media that now include television, film, manga, photography, and computer games. This second, expanded edition of an award-winning reference will help students and teachers as well as storytellers, writers, and creative artists delve into this enchanting world and keep pace with its past and its many new facets. Alphabetically organized and global in scope, the work is the only multivolume reference in English to offer encyclopedic coverage of this subject matter. The four-volume collection covers national, cultural, regional, and linguistic traditions from around the world as well as motifs, themes, characters, and tale types. Writers and illustrators are included as are filmmakers and composers—and, of course, the tales themselves. The expert entries within volumes 1 through 3 are based on the latest research and developments while the contents of volume 4 comprises tales and texts. While most books either present readers with tales from certain countries or cultures or with thematic entries, this encyclopedia stands alone in that it does both, making it a truly unique, one-stop resource.




Folk Tales from Brazil


Book Description

Unveil the Mystical Heart of Brazil’s Folk Legends Step into a land where the rainforest hums with magic, where heroic leaders defy oppression, and where the boundaries between the natural and supernatural dissolve into the mist. Folk Tales from Brazil: Mystical Legends and Enchanting Myths invites you on a journey through Brazil’s most captivating stories, woven from the rich tapestry of its diverse cultural heritage. In this first volume of our Folk Tales from Brazil series, readers of all ages will be enchanted by tales of mischievous forest spirits like Curupira, whose backward feet lead the unwary astray, and O Boto, the enchanting river dolphin who transforms into a handsome man to steal hearts. Experience the legendary bravery of Zumbi dos Palmares, the leader who became a symbol of resistance, and feel the tragic sorrow of O Negrinho do Pastoreio, a young slave whose enduring spirit continues to inspire. These timeless stories, steeped in the vibrant landscapes of Brazil, offer profound lessons that resonate across generations. A Treasure Trove of Timeless Wisdom More than just stories, these folk tales are the distilled teachings of human culture, brimming with profound knowledge and timeless wisdom. They are a pleasure to read, filled with universal themes of love, bravery, transformation, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Perfect for readers of all ages, these tales are not only entertaining but also serve as a bridge to understanding the culture from which they originate. At the heart of this collection is a mission to preserve the valuable cultural inheritance that these stories represent. Folk tales are the foundation of human storytelling, offering a unique window into the values, fears, and aspirations of a people. Understanding a culture is best done through the stories it tells, and in this volume, you’ll find a rich tapestry of Brazilian tradition, ready to be passed down and cherished for generations to come. A Must-Have for Any Library or Bookshelf We envision this collection as a treasure that any library or bookshelf can hold and pass on to future generations—so they too can be inspired and draw teachings from our ancestors' stories. Whether you’re a lover of mythology, a seeker of adventure, or a parent wanting to introduce your children to the wonders of storytelling, this book is an essential addition to your collection. Key Features: Mystical Brazilian Legends: Immerse yourself in the rich folklore of Brazil, with stories that have been passed down through generations, capturing the essence of the country’s mythological heritage. Perfect for All Ages: With stories that are as entertaining as they are educational, this collection is suitable for readers young and old, offering something for everyone. Cultural Insight: Gain a deeper understanding of Brazilian culture and values through interpretations and analyses of the folk tales that have shaped the nation’s identity. Beautifully Crafted: Designed to be a timeless keepsake, this book is a treasure that will enhance any personal library or bookshelf. Folk Tales from Brazil is more than just a book; it’s a journey into the heart of a culture, a celebration of the art of storytelling, and a preservation of a priceless cultural heritage. Add this volume to your collection today and become a part of the timeless tradition of folk tales that continue to inspire and teach us about the world and ourselves.




The Latin American Story Finder


Book Description

Anything is possible in the world of Latin American folklore, where Aunt Misery can trap Death in a pear tree; Amazonian dolphins lure young girls to their underwater city; and the Feathered Snake brings the first musicians to Earth. One in a series of folklore reference guides ("...an invaluable resource..."--School Library Journal), this book features summaries and sources of 470 tales told in Mexico, Central America and South America, a region underrepresented in collections of world folklore. The volume sends users to the best stories retold in English from the Inca, Maya, and Aztec civilizations, Spanish and Portuguese missionaries and colonists, African slave cultures, indentured servants from India, and more than 75 indigenous tribes from 21 countries. The tales are grouped into themed sections with a detailed subject index.




Material Ecocriticism


Book Description

Material Ecocriticism offers new ways to analyze language and reality, human and nonhuman life, mind and matter, without falling into well-worn paths of thinking. Bringing ecocriticism closer to the material turn, the contributions to this landmark volume focus on material forces and substances, the agency of things, processes, narratives and stories, and making meaning out of the world. This broad-ranging reflection on contemporary human experience and expression provokes new understandings of the planet to which we are intimately connected.




The Early Amazons


Book Description

The Early Amazons offers a new understanding of the ancient Amazon myth, situating mythical representations in the realm of cultural history. The first section examines how the Amazons have presented a challenge to views on history, myth and gender in classical mythology from the late eighteenth century up to the impact of structuralism. Topics included are nineteenth-century historiography and the interest in linguistics. The second section sheds new light on the culture of archaic Greece, offering a coherent assessment of literary and visual representations. Taking mythical narrative as a form of oral storytelling, it shows the emergence of the Amazon motif and its meaning in the world of epic. Iconographical analysis reveals how the visual arts have made a contribution of their own to the imaginary presence of the Amazons.




Folk Heroes and Heroines around the World


Book Description

This comprehensive collection of folk hero tales builds on the success of the first edition by providing readers with expanded contextual information on story characters from the Americas to Zanzibar. Despite the tremendous differences between cultures and ethnicities across the world, all of them have folk heroes and heroines—real and imagined—that have been represented in tales, legends, songs, and verse. These stories persist through time and space, over generations, even through migrations to new countries and languages. This encyclopedia is a one-stop source for broad coverage of the world's folk hero tales. Geared toward high school and early college readers, the book opens with an overview of folk heroes and heroines that provides invaluable context and then presents a chronology. The book is divided into two main sections: the first provides entries on the major types and themes; the second addresses specific folk tale characters organized by continent with folk hero entries organized alphabetically. Each entry provides cross references as well as a list of further readings. Continent sections include a bibliography for additional research. The book concludes with an alphabetical list of heroes and an index of hero types.




Ecocriticism and Indigenous Studies


Book Description

This book addresses the intersections between the interdisciplinary realms of Ecocriticism and Indigenous and Native American Studies, and between academic theory and pragmatic eco-activism conducted by multiethnic and indigenous communities. It illuminates the multi-layered, polyvocal ways in which artistic expressions render ecological connections, drawing on scholars working in collaboration with Indigenous artists from all walks of life, including film, literature, performance, and other forms of multimedia to expand existing conversations. Both local and global in its focus, the volume includes essays from multiethnic and Indigenous communities across the world, visiting topics such as Navajo opera, Sami film production history, south Indian tribal documentary, Maori art installations, Native American and First Nations science-fiction literature and film, Amazonian poetry, and many others. Highlighting trans-Indigenous sensibilities that speak to worldwide crises of environmental politics and action against marginalization, the collection alerts readers to movements of community resilience and resistance, cosmological thinking about inter- and intra-generational multi-species relations, and understandings of indigenous aesthetics and material ecologies. It engages with emerging environmental concepts such as multispecies ethnography, cosmopolitics, and trans-indigeneity, as well as with new areas of ecocritical research such as material ecocriticism, biosemiotics, and media studies. In its breadth and scope, this book promises new directions for ecocritical thought and environmental humanities practice, providing thought-provoking insight into what it means to be human in a locally situated, globally networked, and cosmologically complex world.




Stories in Action


Book Description

Promote the love of story, familiarize children with a variety of story forms and stimulate curiosity in diverse subjects while building basic literacy skills. In this guide, dozens of enchanting stories from around the world are accompanied by simple learning extensions for children (ages 4 through 8) that build such important literacy skills as print awareness, print motivation, vocabulary, phonological awareness, listening skills, and predicting and sequencing skills. Each of the 14 chapters begins with an interactive, illustrated folktale finger play as the starting point for a range of literacy building activities such as acting out, re-telling, writing, and discussions; and ends with a short list of related books. A great resource for library story hour, the book will also be invaluable to storytellers, teachers, day care centers, and after school programs. Grades PreK-3. Enchant children with these interactive stories while building a solid foundation for literacy in young learners. This guide is designed to promote in children (ages 4 through 8) the love of story, familiarize them with a variety of story forms, stimulate curiosity in diverse subjects, and build literacy skills. It offers approximately 40 engaging and interactive tales from around the world along with related activities, and it provides educators and storytellers with a wealth of exciting material for literacy and storytelling programs. The book is organized in three sections-Exploring Structures of Stories, Exploring Themes and Characters through Stories, and Exploring Cultures through Stories. Each of the 14 chapters begins with an interactive, illustrated folktale finger play as starting point for a range of literacy building activities such as acting out, re-telling, writing, and discussions. Related stories and picture book references build upon such themes as tall tales, sharing, magical helpers, and the rain forest. Tips for working with younger children, as well as gifted and older children are also included. Grades PreK-3.