Favorite Folktales?

[emberleo]

What are your favorite folktales with female protagonists?

I'll accept anything with unknown author as "Folktale" whether it's a parable, a legend, a saga, a fairytale, or whatever.

I guess I don't mind knowing about works with known authors too provided you cite the author's name for reference.

But I'm really looking for the kinds of patterns that primarily manifest when a story has gotten told and retold and reshaped and retold over time, rather than a single person's idea of a good story, however grounded in tradition it may be.

-E-

Comments

[elf]

Do you want "favorite" or "any you know of?" I've never liked the story of Bluebeard, but it's got a female protagonist. I did like
Secrets by mistykasumi. Short, 486 words.
Summary: He has many secrets, and even though you will uncover one of his secrets, you'll never discover the right one. A retelling of Bluebeard.

I liked Snow White & Rose Red, who made friends with the bear, more than the Snow White story with the trip to grandma's and the wolf. (*Sits on hands; does not dig out a cluster of excellent Snow White fanfics.*)

Diamonds and Toads was one I liked.

I've never actually read The Goose Girl, but I found both the Grimm version and another version, so maybe there's things worth comparing there.

The Fairy's Midwife is one we use in Feri; The Midwife of Listowel is another variant, and there's a very short version (with Welsh translation) at The Llanuwchllyn Version of the Fairy Mother and the Human Midwife.

Two Watership Down stories with folktales built in: Bright Moon, Who Goes Farther Still by hossgal and The Story of Marli-Hrair and the Black Rabbit of Inle by Edonohana. Not what you're looking for, but maybe after you track down patterns, you can see if they show up in new stories.

[emberleo]

Well, I was hoping for good ones, but for folks who don't know a lot, any they know of is good.

I know too many folklorists ;p

-E-

[emberleo]

> the Snow White story with the trip to grandma's and the wolf.

Er, that's Little Red Riding Hood.

Snow White is the one with the wicked stepmother and a bunch of dwarves.

I'm fond of the Goose Girl, yes.

Oooh, Fairy Midwife, I'll have to read those, thank you! And Yes, once I track the patterns, I'll notice them in new stories too, but that's not this particular project :)

-E-