Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/49

 FOLK-TALE ANALYSIS.

[See Report of Folk-Tale Committee, Folk-Lore Record, vol. v. pp. 204-212.]

THE Folk-Tale Committee appointed by the Council desire to draw the attention of the Members to their scheme as set forth in the Report appended to the Folk-Lore Record, vol. V. The scheme of operations is to analyse each story in the manner suggested by the examples already given, each analysis as it is completed to be sent to the Honorary Secretary for presentation to the Committee, who will then examine it and pass it for printing or for filing. Each analysis thus obtained will be worked into a scheme of folk-tale classification, and the Committee believe that by this exhaustive process they will be able to arrive at the root stories and the derivative stories under various cycles of tradition. To do this work thoroughly it will be seen that the co-operation of all interested in the work of the Society is needed, and the Committee trust they will receive offer of immediate and continued help.

Members are earnestly requested to communicate all matters of interest to the Honorary Secretary in connection with this subject, and to correspond in the monthly issue of the Folk-Lore Record on doubtful points. Every name received as a volunteer for the work will be printed in the Folk-Lore Journal, so that Members may be posted up as to the progress of the work.

For the purpose of guiding the Members in the selection of books to be analysed under the system proposed by the Committee, the following list of books has been drawn up, and Members may register their names against any of these books or against any other books not included in the list which may be suggested to the Committee from time to time.

In drawing up the list the Committee have had solely in view the object immediately in hand. No attempt has been made to compile a complete bibliography of folk-tales. As far as Europe is concerned the list contains nearly everything of real importance for the Committee's purpose, but doubtless many works dealing with extra-European