Provides an overview of folk and fairy tales as a type of world folklore, discusses examples, and explores manifestations of these tales throughout world literature and culture Just about everyone is familiar with folk and fairy tales. Children learn about them from parents, teachers, and other adults, while researchers study these tales at colleges and universities. At the same time, folk and fairy tales are inseparable from everyday life and popular culture. Movies, music, art, and literature offer imaginative retellings and interpretations of fairy and folk tales. But despite the pervasiveness of this folklore type, most people have only a vague understanding of these tales. This reference work is a convenient introduction to folk and fairy tales for students and general readers. Written by a leading authority, this handbook offers a broad examination of folk and fairy tales as a folklore type. It looks at tales from around the world and from diverse cultures. The volume defines and classifies folk and fairy tales and analyzes a number of examples. It studies the varied manifestations of fairy and folk tales in literature and culture and reviews critical and scholarly approaches to this folklore genre. The volume also includes a glossary and extensive list of works for further reading. The first title in the Greenwood Folklore Handbooks series Gives a broad overview of folk and fairy tales as a type of world folklore Includes examples of folk and fairy tales from around the world Provides a glossary of key terms Reviews current scholarship Accessible to a wide range of audiences