Folklore & Mythology: Home

Folkloristics, the study of Folklore, is the study of human expressive culture, and includes myths, legends, folk- and fairy-tales, jokes, proverbs, jump-rope rhymes, material culture, and much more.

Introduction

Welcome to the Folklore and Mythology LibGuide at the University of Washington Libraries. Folkloristics, the study of Folklore, is the study of human expressive culture, and includes myths, legends, folk- and fairy-tales, jokes, proverbs, jump-rope rhymes, material culture, and much more. It offers rich insight into human behavior, creativity, and belief systems.

Our Folklore and Mythology print collection is housed at Suzzallo Library: make sure to check the GR call numbers! In addition, you have access to several hundred online databases, over thirty E-Journals (many with full-text options), and many free internet websites.

Please explore this guide for more information and links to the most useful resources for research in Folklore & Mythology. Use the tabs to the left to locate resources relevant to the study of Folklore and Mythology.

Many of the databases in this guide are restricted to UW students, staff and faculty. These are marked with UW Restricted lock icon. To connect to these databases from home you will need log in with your UW NetID.

Danish Trolls in the Hills

Danish trolls living in the hills as described in legends and folk tales, Louis Moe, 1918.

Starting Points

Encyclopedia Mythica
A free, open access resource including 23 different cultural mythologies, interlinked and fully searchable. Anyone can contribute but a long list of specialist editors makes this a very reliable source. A large image gallery, the inclusion of genealogy tables, and a guide to pronunciation make this site truly invaluable to all levels of researchers.
Folklore; an Encyclopedia of Beliefs, Customs, Tales, Music, and Art
Provides a cross-cultural survey of the major types and methods of inquiry in folklore to define the identity of every culture in the world. Includes a short, selective bibliography of classic folklore titles, with a strong representation of British and American sources.

JSTOR This link opens in a new window
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A fulltext digital library including academic journals, books and primary sources. For both primary and secondary research, this database is an excellent place to begin a well defined research project on folklore or mythology.