Over the lip of the world : among the storytellers of Madagascar / Colleen J. McElroy

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McElroy, Colleen J.

Series:

Samuel and Althea Stroum Books

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Storytelling.

Oral tradition.

Mythology, Malagasy.

Storytelling--Madagascar.

Oral tradition--Madagascar.

Madagascar.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxxiv, 216 pages) : illustrations (some color), maps

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Seattle, Wa. : University of Washington Press, 1999

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Gifted travel writer, poet, professor of English, and insightful observer of human nature, Colleen McElroy journeyed to Madagascar to undertake a Fulbright research project exploring Malagasy oral traditions and myths. In Over the Lip of the World she depicts with equal verve the various storytelling traditions of the island and her own adventures in trying to find and record them. McElroy's tale of an African American woman's travels among the people of Madagascar is told with wit, insight, and humor. Throughout it she interweaves English translations of Malagasy stories of heroism and morality, royalty and commoners, love and revenge, and the magic of tricksters and shapechangers.

Contents:

Cover ; Title ; Copyright ; Contents ; Illustrations; Introduction; The Tapestry of Languages in Translation; Selected Bibliography; I: AND ALL THE TOWNS BETWEEN; How Stories Carne to Be: Three Views; ""Origins of Myths,"" Alphonse Raharison; ""Tapasiry-Tales from the South,"" Aurelien de Moussa Behavira; ""The Oral Tradition,"" Ernest Rakotosalama; II: UNDER SOUTHERN SKIES: MEMOIRS OF TOLIARA; ""Papango Fito Loha: Seven-headed Hawk""; ""Just Head""; ""Babaky-Squash Boy""; III: TRAFFIC IN SALT COUNTRY; ""The Three Brothers""; ""Two Girls and the Old Woman""; ""Rafaravavy and Randrianoro""

IV: SPIRITS OF WATER, SPIRITS OF LAKES""The Legend of Tritriva""; ""Rafara-Girl of the Waters""; V: ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS; ""Raharinora and Randriantsara""; ""Faralahy Mahery: Strong Youngest Son""; ""Ravolamamba and Tsaramiamby""; VI: PEOPLE OF THE HIGHLANDS; PEOPLE OF THE LONG VALLEYS; PEOPLE OF THE THORNS; ""It Was There But Goes By Quickly"" (hiragasy); ""Moonlight,"" poem by Mme. Madeline; ""Water: The Source of Life,"" poem by Mme. Madeline; ""The Way to Say Farewell,"" poem by M. Ernest; ""Each Day Now Breaks,"" poem by M. Rado; ""Afrika!"" poem by M. Rado

""Maliciousness,"" poem by M. Rado""Nostalgia,"" poem by M. Rado; VII: TURNING THE BONES; ""Andriananahary (Zanahary) sy Andriantompo: The Lord Who Creates and the Lord Who Owns""; VIII: THE LIGHT STILL SHINES TOMORROW; ""The Rite of Bathing the King""; ""Jadan'Ikoto""; ""Jaotombo, the Fisherman""; IX: ONLY THE SEA BEYOND; ""Betombokoantsoro: The Monster""; Index; Plate Sections

Notes:

"A Samuel and Althea Stroum book."

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780295997643

0295997648

OCLC:

930704034