Time Schedule:
Guntis I. Smidchens
C LIT 230
Seattle Campus
Comprehensive overview of the field of folkloristics, focusing on verbal genres, customs, belief, and material culture. Particular attention to the issues of community, identity, and ethnicity. Offered: jointly with SCAND 230.
Class description
Folklore (traditional stories, beliefs, songs, and customs) is a rich source for understanding people and their worldviews. This course will survey several genres of folklore and study the people who maintain those folklore traditions. A variety of theories and methods applied in folklore studies during the past two centuries will be introduced in readings and lectures.
Student learning goals
To learn some “classic” folklore examples: variants of legends, folktales and songs in Northern Europe and America.
To engage and critique a variety of folklore interpretations (“survivalist,” historic-geographic, functional, interpretive, culture brokering, etc.)
To learn how to formulate your own, ethnographically based interpretations of folklore.
General method of instruction
lecture & class discussion
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Oral presentations: 20% Class discussion (face-to-face and online) 20% Three response essays: 20% Quizzes: 20% Final Examination: 20%
