John Minton; David Evans
Helskinki: Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia, 2001.

Among the most popular of all African-American folktales is the story folklorists know as The Coon in the Box, itself a derivative of the extremely old and widespread narrative usually identified, after Brothers Grimm, as Doctor Know-All (Doktor Allwissend) (AaTh 1641). Not coincidentally, this item has served as a centerpiece in the debate over the sources of New World black folktales. A detailed analysis of The Coon in the Box, its life history and cultural context thus reveals a great deal not only of the nature of African-American oral narratives in and of themselves, but also of the challenges confronting scholars in investigating the origins, diffusion, and development of these traditions. FF Communications No. 277 published by the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters.

John Minton
Helskinki: Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia, 1993.

Though devoted specifically to the life history of the anecdote folklorists know as Tale Type 1676A/Motif K1682.1, Big ‘Fraid and Little ‘Fraid, this study more generally assesses the manner in which the circuitous epistemology of the tale indices compiled by, or in emulation of, Antti Aarne and Stith Thompson covertly subverted Richard Dorson’s controversial conclusions concerning the origins of Afro-American oral narratives, as well as the arguments of those who have challenged his position. FF Communications No. 253 published by the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters.