Traditional Slovak Folktales

The folktale characters of Popolvar and Johnny Pea may not be as well known as Rumpelstiltskin, nor Brother Birdie as beloved as the Ugly Duckling, but their Slovak heritage is as rich in charm and piquancy as any in the world. This volume makes that folk culture available for English-language readers.

Most of the fifty tales assembled here from the collections of folklorist Pavol Dobsinsky are translated into English for the first time. The poetic qualities of the originals have been preserved for the reader's delight, and the book includes an insightful introduction to the genres of the folktale and the specifics of Slovak tales.

Acknowledgments

ix

Pronunciation Guide

xiii

Glossary

xv

Introduction

xix

The Enchanted Forest

3

(8)

Two Rascals

11

(5)

The Wizard

16

(3)

Stovey the Fool

19

(2)

The Spinner of Gold

21

(5)

The Gypsy Duped the Devil

26

(2)

Raduz and L'udmila

28

(8)

The Golden Horseshoe, the Golden Feather, and the Golden Hair

36

(11)

Brother Birdie

47

(3)

Lomidrevo or Valibuk

50

(17)

The Bear and the Mosquito

67

(2)

The Little Deer

69

(6)

Kubo's Adventures

75

(4)

Mataj

79

(9)

Dalajlama

88

(7)

We Three Brothers

95

(3)

Lady Kitty

98

(5)

Bladder-Blatherskite and His Friends

103

(2)

Vintalko

105

(8)

Sitno

113

(2)

The People-Eaters

115

(7)

The Sorceress Queen

122

(7)

Heavenly Glory

129

(4)

Old Bodrik and the Wolf

133

(2)

A Pair of Equal Beauty

135

(5)

Klinko and Kompit King

140

(6)

Kinglet, Cooklet, and Ashlet

146

(8)

The Old Maid and the Devil

154

(3)

The Tale of the Foolish Woman

157

(3)

Johnny Pea

160

(11)

The Man Who Never Sinned

171

(2)

Beautiful Ibronka

173

(5)

The Shorn Nanny Goat and the Hedgehog

178

(4)

The Old Man and the Twelve Sheep

182

(4)

The Twelve Months

186

(6)

The Wooden Cow

192

(7)

A Woman's Wit

199

(5)

The Toad's Godmother

204

(2)

The Kids

206

(2)

Salt over Gold

208

(6)

The Tinkers and the Evil One

214

(3)

The Honest Valach

217

(5)

Auntie Death

222

(2)

Petor and the Heavenly Father in the Wide Vale

224

(5)

The King of Time

229

(6)

The Baca and the Dragon

235

(5)

The Golden-Horned Stag

240

(4)

Right

244

(9)

The Dead Suitor

253

(4)

Popolvar, the Greatest in the World

257

(14)

Classifications and Commentaries to the Tales

271

(8)

Appendix: Tale Collection in Nineteenth-Century Slovakia and the Origin of Traditional Slovak Folktales

279

(1)

Map: Slovak Countries in Nineteenth Century Austro-Hungary

280

(16)

Bibliography

296

(2)

About the Author

298

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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Traditional Slovak Folktales

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials