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

[lferion]

Child apparently collected some dozen or more versions of Tam Lin, and the Thomas the Rhymer story is related to it as well, and at least 200 years older (1300s rather than 1500s). Children/people stolen by fairies goes way back. I don't have resources to hand to give any details or references other than wikipedia though.

[emberleo]

That's ok, I can footnote chase from Wikipedia easily enough.

-E-