Ariadne's Thread: A Guide to International Tales Found in Classical Literature (review)

William Hansen's Ariadne's Thread introduces the principles of one field of study—folk-narrative research—to the practitioners of another—classics. As the author states in his preface, "This book deals with international narratives that are attested in ancient Greek and Latin literature, including writings penned in these languages by Egyptians, Jews and others" (p. xi). Elsewhere, he defines the two main aims of the articles in this volume as (1) "to connect particular oral narratives to particular classical stories" (p. 23) and (2) "to characterize the narrative tradition to which the tale type belongs" (p. 25).

From a more general perspective, this means adapting the concept of multiple variation, such a central feature of oral tradition, to the study and understanding of what might otherwise be regarded as unique stories in an environment of literary texts. While the systematic scrutiny of Greek and Latin literature to 400 A.D. is without a doubt bound to uncover much classical grist for the folklorist's mill, and will be greatly welcomed as such, it is the classics scholar who is likely to reap the greater benefit from Hansen's work. His introductory essay (pp. 1–31) concentrates, on the one hand, on a brief history of "The Comparative Study of the Folktale" (the Grimms, Benfey, von Sydow, Bolte-Polivka, Aarne) and, on the other hand, on "The Study of Greek and Roman Folk Narrative," before describing in some detail what he terms "The Present Work." This last part is, in effect, a guide to the Tale-Type Index, the aim, nature, structure, and specific arrangement of which are, after all, at the very heart of "the present work." The application of the categories and numerical system of Aarne and Thompson's well-established research tool to the stories told in early classical literature may not evoke the same sense of discovery to a folklorist as to a classics scholar, but the combination of the working practices of both disciplines in the presentation of almost a hundred entries in identifiable international story types (or clusters) or, sometimes, in individual motifs, may nevertheless also serve as an eye-opener to the student of folk narratives. Certainly William Hansen, with a foot in both camps, is the ideal person to see this bridge-building exercise through with considerable benefits to scholars working in either field.

At the heart of the book (pp. 33–489) are what Hansen appropriately calls "The Tales," that is, the entries devoted to "international tales found in classical literature." Here is where the real substance lies, with Hansen's compendium intended to act as a guide. Much of its effectiveness, therefore, depends on the presentation of these entries, on the marshalling and organization of the knowledge and information to be conveyed, and the ease of their accessibility. The fact that Hansen has chosen an alphabetical arrangement must appear natural, or even self-evident, at first glance, for the alphabet has become such a ubiquitous structuring device that its shortcomings are easily overlooked. In this case, the author has decided to arrange alphabetically mostly the titles or phrases devised in Aarne and Thompson's reference work (when these were available) from "Apprentice and Ghost," "Asking the Large Fish," and "Attentive Donkey" to "Wooden Doll," and "Youth Who Bathed Himself in Blood." The Aarne-Thompson (AT) title is conveniently followed by the relevant classical reference, like "Eukrates and the Automaton," "Philoxnos the Poet," "Homo," or "Achilleus's Heel." Hansen has helpfully provided an "Index of Ancient Sources," an "Index of Tale Types and Motifs," and a "General Index," but there is no index of ancient titles.

When it comes to the individual entries, however, we are on much safer ground, for in these dedicated short articles the adopted strategies serve their purpose well, putting abstract intentions into concrete shape. The basic...