Encyclopedia of American Folklore (Facts on File Library of American Literature)

Description based on print version record. "Encyclopedia of American Folklore helps readers explore the topics, terms, themes, figures, and issues related to the folklore of the United States. This comprehensive reference explains the cultural origins, historical contexts, and social functions of American folklore and discusses how folklorists understand these elements." "This accessible and thorough guide addresses the needs of multiple audiences, including high school, college, and public libraries; archive and museum collections; storytellers; and independent researchers. Appendixes include a bibliography, a category index, and a discussion of starting points for researching American folklore. References and bibliographic material throughout the text highlight recently published and commonly available materials for further study."--Jacket Folklore has been described as the unwritten literature of a culture: its songs, stories, sayings, games, rituals, beliefs, and ways of life. This work helps readers explore topics, terms, themes, figures, and issues related to this popular subject. It addresses the needs of multiple audiences, including high school, college and public libraries.