Bibliography
Teacher Resources
Andrew, Dudley. Storytelling Around the Globe, "Seminar Notes," (Yale National Initiative),
July 2009. Dudley Andrew is a Professor of Film and of Comparative Literature at Yale University and led the Storytelling Around the Globe seminar. The information I included on hinge functions and free motifs in literature and film was gleaned from my notes taken during one of our seminar meetings.
Dunn, Joseph (trans). The Ancient Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualange, The Cualnge Cattle-Raidd
London: David Nutt, 1914. This book contains an English translation of the Irish epic tale. The "Preface" contains a lot of historical and background information on oral tradition in Ireland and of the events in the story. I recommend teachers read the "Preface" before reading any of the stories to get a better understanding of the significance of oral tradition in this culture.
Encyclopedia Britannica. "Fili," Encyclopedia Britannica Online, 2009. 26 July 2009.
Hale, Thomas A. Scribe, Griot and Novelist Narrative Interpreters of the Songhay
Empire. Gainesville: University of Florida Press/Center for African Studies, 1990. An indepth comparison of those who record stories in writing, the griots who continues oral tradition, and the authors of fictional books. Be sure to dedicate a lot of time to this book because it explains the complex differences between each. You will find great research that could be supplemented to any unit that focuses on fiction or oral tradition.
"Irish Pipes," www.harpanddragon.com/uillean.htm. 26 July 2009.
Jackson, Kenneth Hurlstone. The Oldest Irish Traditions. London: Cambridge University
Press, 1964. Professor K.H. Jackson delivered this lecture in May 1964 at University of Cambridge. I found it to help a lot with the discussion of the validity of oral tradition versus the transcribed version of history the West is so accustomed to viewing.
"Language Arts Grade 8 Goals and Objectives," Public School of North Carolina Standard Course of Study, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2009. http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/languagearts/scos/2004/25grade8. 26 July 2009.
Steenput, E. "Satsuma Biwa." Kampai Budokai. www.kampaibudokai.org/Biwa.html
(accessed July 14, 2009). This website is a great resource for information on the Biwa instrument and it's prevalence in Japan today. There are several different popular Biwa players profiled here - and their recitation of The Heike Tales.
Todorov, Tzvetan. The Fantastic A Structural Approach to a Literary Genre. Ithica: Cornell
University Press, 1975. This book is easily accessible and is a great source for research into the literary genre described here as "fantastic." This is a great reference book any English teacher should have on his/her desk. It will allow you to probe the minds of your students on a deeper level.
Yriat, Juan R. "The kora." Mory Kanté. /www.morykante.com/biog/instruments.html
(accessed July 13, 2009). This website provides a brief synopsis of the kora, the guitar-like instrument used by griots in West Africa. Music teachers might be interested at some of the links offered on this website.
Student Resources
Kinchella, Thomas (trans). Sons of Usnech. Chester Springs: Dufour Editions, 1964. The entire story summarized above is contained in this book. It was translated by Thomas Kinchella. The publisher states that the translation is not literal, but reassures the reader that the deviations are generally slight. This story was not contained in The Ancient Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualange, The Cualnge Cattle-Raidd, but is part of the larger epic.
Niane, D.T. (trans). Sundiata: An Epic Tale of Old Mali. London: Longman Group Limited,
1977. This contains the translation by G.D. Pickett and contains a great map of Old Mali that would assist students while reading the story. The "Preface" contains a lot of important information about the role of the griot. I think this is a great addition to any English teacher's bookcase.
Sadler, A.L. (trans). The Ten Foot Hut and Tales of the Heike. Sydney: Angus & Robertson
Limited, 1928. This book is translated by A.L. Sadler, Professor of Oriental Studies in the University of Syndey. There are great illustrations throughout the book as well as a web that explains the hierarchy of the court, government and military officials. The "Introduction" provides a lot of historical and background information on the Japanese epic. Teachers can read the entire epic and decide which story would best suit their students.
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