The Corn Woman: Stories and Legends of the Hispanic Southwest

by Angel Vigil

Overview

The culture, history, and spirit of the Hispanic Southwest are brought to readers through this fascinating collection of 45 cuentos (stories and legends) from the region. From ancient creation myths of the Aztecs and traditional tales of Spanish colonialists to an eclectic sampling of the work of modern Latino storytellers, this book provides a rich tapestry of both obscure and well-loved stories-religious stories; animal tales; stories of magic, transformation, and wisdom; and chistes (short comic tales). Fifteen tales are also presented in Spanish. The origin and historical development of the stories are examined in an introductory chapter. A discussion of dichos (proverbs) and adivinanzas (riddles) illuminates the larger context of the oral tradition in which the tales have flourished. Lavishly illustrated with pictures of original paintings and sculpture by contemporary Latino artists, this fascinating collection will appeal to children and adults alike and is a must for the multicultural class

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781563081941
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/15/1994
Series:	World Folklore Series , #4
Pages:	234
Product dimensions:	7.25(w) x 10.30(h) x 1.05(d)
Age Range:	5 - 17 Years

About the Author

ANGEL VIGIL is Chairman of the Fine and Performing Arts Department, Colorado Academy, Denver, Colorado, and an award-winning educator, author, and storyteller.

Table of Contents

Preface: The Cuento of This Book
And Here Begins the Story
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Map: The Center of Traditional Spanish Folklore in the American Southwest
1In the Beginning: Stories from the Spirit of the Aztecs
The Aztec Creation Legend
The Five Suns
Stories from the Merging of Two Cultures
The Weeping Woman (La Llorona)
La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Nuestra Señora De Guadalupe)
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe)
2The Traditional Cuentos
Moral and Religious Stories
Doña Sebastiana
Doña Sebastiana
El Santo Niño
The Devil's Friend
The Three Branches (Las tres ramas)
Las tres ramas (The Three Branches)
The Brujas' Dance
The Gifts of the Holy Family (Los regalos de la Sagrada Familia)
Los regalos de la Sagrada Familia (The Gifts of the Holy Family)
El Santo Niño de Atocha
Los DosCompadresStories
The True Path to Happiness (El camino verdadero a la felicidad)
El camino verdadero a la felicidad (The True Path to Happiness)
The Compadre's Sandals
The Greedy Compadre
Chistes
One for You, One for Me (Una para ti, una para mí)
Una para ti, una para mí (One for You, One for Me)
You First!
Don Cacahuate, Mr. Peanut
Is He Lost?
Like Father, Like Son (De tal palo, tal astilla)
De tal palo, tal astilla (Like Father, Like Son)
The Three Simpletons (Los tres simplones)
Los tres simplones (The Three Simpletons)
The Three Simpletons, Even Dumber!
The Three Dreamers
The Shepherd and the Skunk
Tales of Transformation, Magic, and Wisdom
The Three Pieces of Good Advice (Los tres buenos consejos)
Los tres buenos consejos (The Three Pieces of Good Advice)
The Boy Who Killed the Giant (El muchacho que mató al gigante)
El muchacho que mató al gigante (The Boy Who Killed the Giant)
Don Jacinto
The Magic Violin
Jujuyana, The Devil's Daughter
The Most Interesting Gift of All
The Boy Without Fear
Pedro de Ordimalas
Animal Stories
The Littlest Ant
The Smelly Feet
The Language of the Animals
The Rabbit and the Coyote (El Conejo y el Coyote)
El Conejo y el Coyote (The Rabbit and the Coyote)
One Good Deed Deserves Another
The Foolish Coyote (El Coyote loco)
El Coyote loco (The Foolish Coyote)
The Eagle and the Lion
3ContemporaryCuentos
Stories by Modern Latino Storytellers
The Dust Devil (El diablo de polvo)
El diablo de polvo (The Dust Devil)
La Llorona's Final Cry
La Coqueta de Piedras Negras y El Barrilero
The Corn Woman (La mujer del maíz)
La mujer del maíz (The Corn Woman)
Angelo the Stowaway
Apolonio Nevarez Jackson
Pano and La Guadalupana: Altar Adventures of Cholo, Vato, Pano, and Mama Chica
The Flood
4Finale
Glossary of Spanish Words
Bibliography
About the Author and Biographies of Contributing Latino Storytellers

Editorial Reviews

A collection of 45 cuentos (stories and legends)--religious stories, animal tales, comic tales, and stories of magic, transformation, and wisdom--from the ancient creation myths of the Aztecs and the traditional tales of Spanish colonists to an eclectic sampling of the work of modern Latino storytellers. The author is a practicing storyteller, and incorporates the storytellers art in his retellings. Fifteen of the pieces are also presented in Spanish. Vigil examines the origins and historical development of the stories in an introductory chapter. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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