History+within+Folktales



=** History within Folktales: An Annotated Bibliography Created by Rachel Young and Jaime Parker​ **= This annotated bibliography was constructed to include resources that are relevant to our collaborative lesson plan covering the usefulness of folktales in teaching fifth graders about various aspects of several cultures' histories. The Hungarian and Indian cultures will be those of primary focus, and the following list is a representation of what we will use in this endeavor.

**Print Sources:**
 * **Martin, Rafe.** //**The Monkey Bridge**//**. Illus. by Fahimeh Amiri. 1997. 32p. Knopf. $18.99. (9780679881063)**.

In this story a beautiful tree, "the Treasure Tree", has the most delicious fruit of any tree in the forest and is inhabited by a group of monkeys. The monkey king warns his monkeys that the fruit must be pi​cked daily so that the fruit will not fall into the river below. For if anyone learns of this fruit, they will surely come to find the tree, putting the monkeys in danger. One day a piece of fruit is overlooked by the monkeys. It falls from the tree and is swept away in the river. A greedy human king, who is taking a relaxing boat ride on the river, smells the fruit from his boat and just as the monkey king fears, orders his men to find the tree. When the king and his men come to the tree and see that it is inhabited by monkeys, he orders the men to draw their bows, and they prepare to rid the tree of the monkeys.

The monkey king saves his monkeys by reaching from the tree to a nearby bamboo plant to make a bridge of his body so that his monkeys can cross to safety. After the king sees this, he realizes how greedy he has been and decides to save this noble monkey. The monkey king taught the king what it really means to be king and the importance of helping and protecting the people under his reign. The king promises that no one from his kingdom will bother "the Treasure Tree" and its monkeys ever again. Before the king goes back to his kingdom, the monkey king gives him a piece of fruit so that he can plant his own seed in his kingdom.

This tale is a Jataka tale, which originated 2,500 years ago and stems from Buddhist teachings. In all Jataka tales one character represents the Buddha during one of his incarnations and teaches the other characters an important lesson. In the author's note, Martin mentions that this story appears in both the Jataka, the anthology of tales and poems in the ancient Pali language, and in the Jatakamala of the Sanskrit poet, Arysura. Bright colorful borders surround pages filled with images of Indian culture, represented through the dress of the characters and other symbols. The historical ties as well as the illustrations, showcase the cultural authenticity of this tale. || //One-Time Dog Market at Buda and Other Hungarian Folktales// is a collection of Hungarian folktales, which includes many based upon historical figures and legends surrounding the founding of Hungary. While many characters are presented in the compilation, King Matthias is the focus of several stories, and most stories delve into the lives of peasants who seek or are granted riches or nobility through acts of cleverness. Turkish influences from the Ottoman Empire, the effect of the Thirty Years War and recruiting of soldiers by the Habsburgs are apparent in stories throughout.
 * **Molnár, Irma. //One-Time Dog Market at Buda and Other Hungarian// //Folktales//. Illus. Georgeta-Elena Eneşe. 2001. 129p. Linnet Books. (978-0208025057).**
 * **Molnár, Irma. //One-Time Dog Market at Buda and Other Hungarian// //Folktales//. Illus. Georgeta-Elena Eneşe. 2001. 129p. Linnet Books. (978-0208025057).**

In alignment with other folktales from Hungary, the openings and closings of these stories are both facetious and vague. In this way, and in the speech-patterns used in the retellings, the oral tradition is captured effectively by the text. The Romanian artist, Georgeta-Elena Eneşel, has contributed beautiful sketches that capture both serious and fun aspects of the tales.

Each tale is accompanied by a brief history of its origins and other relevant information for the reader. These give insight into the cultural relevancy of these tales, as well as the time from which they were derived. This compilation is both informative and interesting in the study of both history and folklore. ||
 * **Hardendorff, Jeanne B. //The Little Cock.// Illus. by Joseph Domjan. 1969. 32p. J.B. Lippincott Company. $4.95 (978-0397310845).**
 * **Hardendorff, Jeanne B. //The Little Cock.// Illus. by Joseph Domjan. 1969. 32p. J.B. Lippincott Company. $4.95 (978-0397310845).**

This is a story that I repeatedly ran across in my research. The story begins with a rooster, belonging to a poor, old woman, finding on the road, outside of their home, a diamond half-penny, button or trinket. The rooster wants to take the diamond button to his mistress, but as soon as the rooster stoops to pick it up, the Sultan appears and has a servant take the jewel before the rooster can get it. The rooster pursues the Sultan to the palace to demand the button be returned; however, the Sultan refuses and has, one of his wives, in turn, toss him into a well, fire and, ultimately, a beehive. The rooster's magic stomach saves him in each instance: he drinks all of the water from the well, which he uses to save himself from the fire and then gobbles up all of the bees in the hive only to release them from his stomach when the Sultan attempts to sit on the rooster to silence him at last. After being stung, the Sultan allows the rooster to take from his treasury whatever he wants, just so he will go away. The rooster is able to take a small fortune back to his mistress for a comfortable living. There they live happily, if they have not died. This story is indicative of the Hungarian sentiment of poor vs. rich and the peasant's ability to overcome tyrannical acts by simply persisting and being clever.

//The Little Cock// feels authentic, in spite of the fact that it has no indication of its origins. The artist, Joseph Domjan, is touted as an expert in Hungarian culture and as a native; this is what gives this rendition its feeling of authenticity. The book is illlustrated with dyed woodcuts by Domjan, which are beautiful and intense in their own right. The text, retold by Jeanne B. Hardendorff, uses terminology that sets it apart from the other tellings. The references on the jacket flaps impress upon me just how steeped in Hungarian culture this book is. I have been unable to find any critical reviews for this title.

I have chosen to include this in the bibliography because of its ability to convey the history of the oppression during the years Hungary was occupied by the Ottoman Empire. Through these folktales, history is discovered through the eyes of a little rooster, and it is his ability to outwit and outsmart the Sultan that finally gives him his reward. ||

media type="youtube" key="bZozn5iTPes" height="221" width="289" align="left" This short cartoon stems from an ancient Hitopadesha Tale. These types of tales, which originated in India about one thousand years ago, always offer advice and are believed to help young children develop into responsible adults. After a study of the symbology and conservation of the elephant in Indian culture, this video will help the students make connections between Indian history and folklore. ||
 * Online Sources:**
 * ~ Videos: ||~  ||~   ||
 * ** Rajshiri. "YouTube - Hitopadesha Tales - The Noble Elephant." //YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.// 10 Jan. 2008. Web. 23 July 2010. ** **<**[] **>**.
 * **Baharseven. "YouTube - Tomori Gala: A Kiskakas Gyemant Felkrajcarja." //YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.// 8 Apr. 2009. Web. 23 July 2010.** **<**[|**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55iT_SfnWc**] **>.**
 * **Baharseven. "YouTube - Tomori Gala: A Kiskakas Gyemant Felkrajcarja." //YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.// 8 Apr. 2009. Web. 23 July 2010.** **<**[|**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55iT_SfnWc**] **>.**

This is a video of a play adaptation of the little rooster media type="youtube" key="R55iT_SfnWc" height="237" width="301" align="right"story presented by Hungarian school children. While the play is not in English, after a study of the Ottoman Occupation of Hungary and a reading of //The Little Cock//, this video will serve as an additional marker of how the effects of that time-period are being felt in Hungary today. The imagination required to bring this story to life on stage is apparent, and the students participating in our unit plan will be able to use this to further their understanding of performance and storytelling. ||


 * ~ Websites about India: ||~  ||
 * **"Indian Folktales." //Cultural India//. Savion Travel Services. Web. 23 July 2010.** **<** [|http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-folktales/index.html]  **>.**

This website is hosted by Savion Travel Services. This all-inclusive site includes a plethora of information about Indian culture, history, and folklore. There are forty folk tales featured from the Hitopadesha, the Jataka, and the Panchatantra, whose origins date back to ancient times. This site will be great for students to explore historical connections to Indian folklore. ||
 * **"Indian Elephant." //Honolulu Zoo Home Page//. Honolulu Zoo Society, 18 June 2010. Web. 23 July 2010. <**[|**http://www.honoluluzoo.org/indian_elephant.htm**] **>.**

This website provides background knowledge about the significance of the elephant in Indian culture as well as information about the conservation of the Indian elephant. This site will serve as an example for the historical connections within folklore. || Websites about Hungary: ||~  ||
 * **Sisa, Stephen. "The Spirit of Hungary." //Corvinus Library - Hungarian History//. Web. 23 July 2010. <** [] **>.**

This website is hosted by the Corvinus Library and contains information pertaining to ancient and recent Hungarian histories and beliefs. This website will be ideal for giving students an overview of European History as it applies to Hungary, and the timeline layout will encourage a linear, storyline, view of the covered events. ||
 * ** "Hungary Guide -- National Geographic." //Travel & Cultures -- National Geographic//. National Geographic Society. Web. 23 July 2010. < ** [] **>.**

This website offers information about Hungary's current state, including pictures and interesting facts. Including current information about Hungary in the lesson will help the students understand that Hungary is not just a setting in history or in folktales, but is modern place that has been affected greatly by historical events and has influenced storytelling and folklore for many generations. ||

For additional resources for folktales and storytelling in India and Hungary, please visit these pages: http://storyfun.wikispaces.com/Folktales+from+India http://themlsstudent.wikispaces.com/Hungarian+Folktales

Please also be sure to visit History within Folktales (Resource Sharing) to view our brainstorming session and collaborative discussions.