Stephen Belcher (Pennsylvania State University)

Submitted: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 12:38:42 -0500


Stephen Belcher 
Assistant Professor
Department of Comparative Literature
311 Burrowes Bldg.
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-6204  USA

phone:    814-667-4490
fax:      814-667-2493
e-mail:   spb3@psu.edu

I have been studying African epics for some time from an intra-African
comparative perspective. Much of the work is bibliographic (tracking down
published material, of which there is quite a bit), but it seems the
necessary first steps for serious comparison across traditions. I treat
the epics as derived from local forms of history, and thus requiring a
certain background for comprehension. I am now moving from epics into the
general field of myth, with a focus not on animal-actors but humans.