Myths, epics, bawdy tales, satires, songs and plays make up traditions of ancient, medieval and early modern cultures. Compares cultural stories worldwide, from early writing to the French Revolution. Includes Gilgamesh, Aztec myths, Roland, The Tale of Genji, Scandinavian tales, Shakespeare's Tempest, Blake's poetry. Introduces skills for reading narratives by genre, theme and poetics. Texts are in English, with attention to texts' original languages.