And Folk Tales“

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And Folk Tales“ DIPLOMARBEIT Titel der Diplomarbeit „The Motif of the Mermaid in English, Irish, and Scottish Fairy- and Folk Tales“ Verfasserin Stephanie Kickingereder angestrebter akademischer Grad Magistra der Philosophie (Mag. phil.) Wien, im Oktober 2008 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 343 Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt: Anglistik und Amerikanistik Betreuer: Ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Franz Wöhrer HINWEIS Diese Diplomarbeit hat nachgewiesen, dass die betreffende Kandidatin oder der betreffende Kandidat befähigt ist, wissenschaftliche Themen selbstständig sowie inhaltlich und methodisch vertretbar zu bearbeiten. Da die Korrekturen der/des Beurteilenden nicht eingetragen sind und das Gutachten nicht beiliegt, ist daher nicht erkenntlich mit welcher Note diese Arbeit abgeschlossen wurde. Das Spektrum reicht von sehr gut bis genügend. Die Habilitierten des Instituts für Anglistik und Amerikanistik bitten diesen Hinweis bei der Lektüre zu beachten. DECLARATION OF AUTHENTICITY I confirm to have conceived and written this M.A. thesis in English all by myself. Quotations from other authors are all clearly marked and acknowledged in the bibliographical references, either in the footnotes or within the text. Any ideas borrowed and/or passages paraphrased from the works of other authors are truthfully acknowledged and identified in the footnotes. Signature Acknowledgements Folgenden Personen möchte ich an dieser Stelle für Ihre Unterstützung danken: Meinen Eltern, die alle Höhen und Tiefen meines Studentendaseins mitverfolgt und mich unterstützt haben. Meiner Mutter, weil sie immer an mich geglaubt und nie an meinen Fähigkeiten gezweifelt hat. Meinem Vater, weil ich mich immer auf Ihn verlassen kann und er so manches organisatorische Hindernis für mich gemeistert hat . Des Weiteren ist es mir ein Anliegen meinem Freund Ulrich zu danken. Er hat sich Zeit genommen um meinen fantastischen und unglaublichen Geschichten, über das Leben an der Universität zu lauschen. Sein Beistand, während dieser wichtigen Zeit in meinem Leben, hat mich gestützt und immer wieder neu motiviert. Natürlich möchte ich auch ein paar Worte des Dankes an meine treuen Freundinnen, Bernadette, Sandra, Susanne und Fikreta richten, die immer da waren wenn Not an der Frau war. Die vielen Stunden die sie mir geduldig zugehört haben kann man mit Gold nicht aufwiegen. Last but not least gebührt besonderer Dank Herrn Prof. Mag. Dr. Franz Wöhrer. Er hat mich der irischen Kultur und Literatur näher gebracht und mein Interesse für dieses Land geweckt. Außerdem möchte ich Ihm meine größte Hochachtung und meinen tiefsten Dank für seinen unermüdlichen Einsatz aussprechen den er in meinem Fall und auch im Fall vieler anderer Studenten gezeigt hat. Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................ 1 2. THE FAIRY WORLD AND ITS INHABITANTS ....................................................................... 3 2.1. FAIRY LORE ................................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.1. The Trooping Fairies............................................................................................................ 5 2.1.2. The Solitary Fairies .............................................................................................................. 6 2.1.3. Water Spirits and other Fairy Types..................................................................................... 8 2.2. FEATURES , DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS AND COSTUMES OF FAIRIES .................................. 10 2.3. THE FAIRIES ’ ROLE IN BRITISH LITERATURE THROUGH THE CENTURIES ................................... 13 2.4. DIFFERENCES IN FAIRY LORE IN BRITAIN .................................................................................. 16 3. TWO LITERARY GENRES: FAIRY TALE AND FOLK TALE ............................................ 21 3.1. FAIRY TALE VERSUS FOLK TALE : AN ATTEMPT AT A CLARIFICATION OF THESE TERMS ........... 21 3.1.1 Historical Development in the Field of Fairy Tale Research .............................................. 27 3.2. ANALYSING A FAIRY TALE ’S THEORETICAL PREMISES IN DEPTH ............................................... 29 3.2.1. The Sea-Maiden : Putting Theory into Practice................................................................... 31 3.2.2. The Sea-Maiden : Main Motifs ........................................................................................... 36 4. THE MERMAID............................................................................................................................ 41 4.1. THE MERMAID : VARIOUS DEFINITIONS ...................................................................................... 41 4.2. VARIETIES OF THE MERMAID IN IRELAND .................................................................................. 43 4.2.1. The Merrow as presented in selected Irish Folk Tales and Legends .................................. 44 4.2.1.1. The Lady of Gollerus ....................................................................................................... 44 4.2.1.2. The Wonderful Tune ........................................................................................................ 48 4.2.1.3. The Soul Cages ................................................................................................................ 51 4.3. THE MERMAID IN SCOTTISH TRADITION .................................................................................... 56 4.3.1. The Mermaid as presented in selected Scottish Folk Tales and Legends........................... 58 4.3.1.1 The Maid-of-the-Wave ...................................................................................................... 58 4.3.1.2. The Mermaid Wife ........................................................................................................... 61 4.4. THE ENGLISH VARIETY OF THE MERMAID ................................................................................. 64 4.4.1. The English Mermaid as presented in selected Fairy- and Folk tales ................................ 65 4.4.1.1. The Mermaid of Zennor ................................................................................................... 65 4.4.1.2. Lutey and the Mermaid .................................................................................................... 68 5. THE MERMAID’S DEVELOPMENT: FROM THE ANCIENT TRADITIONS TO CHRISTIANITY................................................................................................................................ 73 5.1. THE SUNNY SOUTH : BIRTH PLACE OF THE MERMAID MYTH ..................................................... 73 5.2. THE COLD NORTH : THE MERMAID MYTH IN EUROPE ................................................................ 75 5.3. THE ROLE OF THE MERMAID AS A SYMBOL IN CHRISTIAN TRADITION ....................................... 77 5.3.1 . The Fisherman and his Soul ............................................................................................... 79 5.3.2. The Soul Cages, The Lady of Gollerus and Flory Cantillon’s Funeral .............................. 87 6. THE ROLE OF THE MERMAID AS A LITERARY MOTIF AND SYMBOL...................... 91 6.1. THE DARK LADY , FEMME FATALE , TEMPTRESS .......................................................................... 91 6.1.1. The Mermaid’s Vengeance ................................................................................................. 93 6.2. THE HELPER ............................................................................................................................... 99 6.2.1. The Fisherlad and the Mermaid’s Ring ............................................................................ 100 7. CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................. 104 8. BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................ 106 9. INDEX........................................................................................................................................... 113 1. Introduction As the title of this diploma thesis already reveals the mermaid as a literary, cultural and symbolic concept is the main topic of scholarly analysis. The aim of this thesis is to explore and analyse the mermaid motif in Irish, English and Scottish fairy- and folk literature. This encompasses the analysis of similarities and differences between the various regional representations of the mermaid in fairy- and folk tales of Ireland, England, and Scotland. The second chapter will pay close attention to the magic realm the mermaid originates from. This includes the presentation of the cultural as well as mythological background of the fairy lore explaining the main theories about the origin of the established traditions and beliefs. In order to provide an appropriate insight into the magic environment of the mermaid different fairy types as categorized by scholars in the field of folk lore, will be presented. There will be a strong focus on the differentiation between the Irish, English and Scottish fairy traditions and beliefs. Differences in nature and character will be analysed and compared with each other. Apart from the examination of the fairies’ origin, nature and cultural meaning the development of the fairy motif within
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