Includes bibliographical references (p. [233]-245) and index.

Introduction -- Who are the Arabs -- Further readings on Arab culture and history -- Definitions and classifications -- Examples and texts -- Verbal arts -- Musical arts -- Material arts -- Customs and traditions -- Further readings on Arabic oral poetry -- Further readings about Arabic folk narratives -- Further readings on Arabic proverbs -- Further readings on controversial genres -- Further readings on Arab folk music -- Further readings on Arab material folk arts -- Further readings on Arab folk customs and traditions -- Scholarship and approaches -- The historical-geographic method -- Structuralism -- Functionalism -- Folklore in context -- Performance studies -- Oral composition in performance -- Contemporary approaches -- Contexts -- Orality in early Arab culture -- From oral to written: folklore in medieval Arabic literature -- Folklore in modern Arab literature and cinema.