Keeping Track Of Tall Tales, Whimsical Stories, And Fables

   Today I stumbled across a literary resource known as the Aarne-Thompsom-Uther Index.

   It is a basically a listing of folktales and fairytales from every corner of the world, and the basic plots of such. 

   Initially assembled of European (both Western and Eastern) tales, the index has been expanded over the past 100 years or so to include tales (oral and written) from every corner of the globe.

   What intrigues me about the index of tales is the commonality of not only characters and plot elements of stories that originated on the different continents and from the disparate cultures therein, but also the choice of villains.

   For example, there are a lot of evil Stepmother and stepsister tales out there, and quite a few featuring clever animals that are intent on teaching stupid humans a sobering lesson or two.

   Apparently, at one time there was a need for both warnings about the danger in one's father's choice of a second wife (and the kids that were added to the fold) and the need to be listening to animals for necessary life skills advice.