Myths and Folklore

by Henry I. Christ

To introduce high school students to the world of myth, legend and folktale, both in the past and in our society today. Substantial chapters myths of ancient Greece and Rome; tales of the Trojan War; Norse myths; folktales and ballads throughout the world; fairy tales and fables; American folklore. Relevant, unadapted excerpts quoted from the world's literature of myths, legends, ballads, poems, tales. All chapters conclude reading comprehension questions, vocabulary study, discussion topics, individual and group activities, chart of words in current use. Complete "pronouncing" index. Softbound

Genres: Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a textbook, sure, but the text is less dry than most and the selections are choice. It helps that the editor was, in fact, a translator of a few of these works on top of being a curator. This would serve well as an intro to these subjects, as it has a nice balance of the perennials and more obscure examples. The questionnaires and activities are also well-appointed, making this a good example of it's type.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It reads like a textbook for sure. But,I love anything to do with mythology so this book was really easy for me to get into. Definitely recommend it to anyone who's interested in myths and fairy tales because it covers all different parts of the world.

[Brent Newhall]

I actually read the 1968 edition, but the only entry for that on Goodreads is for the Braille version.

This is a lively collection of, well, myth and folklore from an impressive array of world cultures, from Greek and Roman myths to folk tales from South America, Africa, and Korea. The author uses easy-to-understand English but also modifies the style of each story to fit its tradition. The Norse legends are written in a more earthy, matter-of-fact style than the grand style of the Robin Hood stories, for example.

Very useful if you're looking for a wide variety of folk tales, all of relatively short length (roughly 1 to 10 pages each).

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the fact that this is a textbook, and it in between stories reads like a textbook, quizzing the reader on SAT words and making superficial analyses on age-old myths, this is one of the best collections of myth and folklore one can read. The material is varied and exciting, and even excerpts from notable classics like The Iliad and Odyssey ring strongly with the power of the originals. Read if you're looking for old stories you haven't heard yet. Even myth enthusiasts are bound to find something they've never read before.