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Tales of the Fey: the Use of Traditional Faerie Folklore in Contemporary Young Adult Fantasy Novels by Caralyn Andersen B.A

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Tales of the Fey: the Use of Traditional Faerie Folklore in Contemporary Young Adult Fantasy Novels by Caralyn Andersen B.A Tales of the Fey: The use of traditional Faerie folklore in contemporary young adult fantasy novels by Caralyn Andersen B.A. Simon Fraser University, 1992 B.Ed. University of British Columbia, 1996 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Children's Literature) The University of British Columbia (Vancouver) June 2008 © Caralyn Andersen 2008 Abstract There are many examples of novel-length renditions of traditional fairy tales to be found in young adult fantasy literature. Although there is a significant amount of research on the evolution of the fairy tale into novel length narratives, there is little focused on the use of the folklore of Faerie in fantasy novels. This thesis examines the Faerie-related folkloric themes and motifs to be found in four examples of contemporary young adult fantasy novels: An Earthly Knight, Thomas the Rhymer, Tithe, and The Hunter's Moon. Each of these narratives is rich in Faerie folklore. The authors, Janet McNaughton, Ellen Kushner, Holly Black, and O.R. Melling, have gone beyond the pop-culture image of the fairy and explored the many aspects of Faerie to be found in folklore. In their unique ways, these authors each explore Faerie as a realm full of marvels and contradictions, while remaining true to the nature of Faerie found in folklore. This strong base in traditional sources strengthens and adds depth to these narratives. Table Of Contents Abstract ii Table Of Contents iii Acknowledgements v Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Purpose of the Proposed Research 2 Principal Research Questions 3 Thesis 3 Chapter 2: Definitions and Methodology 4 Definitions 4 Fantasy Literature 4 Young Adult Literature 4 Mythic Fiction and Faerie Fantasy 4 Folklore 5 Motifs and Themes 6 Faerie: Definitions and Introduction 7 Methodology 11 Selected Texts 14 Chapter 3: Fairy Motifs and Themes 16 Fairy Origins 16 Categorization of Fairies 17 Fairy Appearance 19 The Setting of Faerie 20 Time in Faerie 21 The Dependence of Fairies on the Human Realm 22 Fairy Abilities and Behaviour 23 Appeasement and Protection 24 Seeing the Fairies 25 Use of Faerie 26 Chapter 4: Literature Review 27 Fantasy: Nature and Defence 27 Folk and Fairy Tales: Nature and Defence 32 The Faerie Tradition in Popular Culture and Literature 38 The Value of Myth, Folklore and Fantasy Literature for the Child and 43 Young Adult Reader 43 Chapter 5 - Ballad Novels 50 Ballads and Folklore 50 Faerie Ballads 51 The Novels 54 An Earthly Knight by Janet McNaughton 54 Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner 61 Chapter 6: Contemporary Faerie Fantasies 75 The Novels 75 Tithe: A Modem Faerie Tale by Holly Black 75 The Hunter's Moon by O.R. Melling 87 Chapter 7: Conclusions and Recommendations 105 Findings 105 Summary of Findings 109 Conclusions Ill Limitations 118 Recommendations for Further Research 119 Works Cited 120 Other Sources Consulted 127 Appendix A: Faerie Motifs: Selected Lists 135 Selected Faerie Motifs from Stith Thompson's Motif-Mdex (1955, 250-531): 135 Selected Faerie Motifs from Margaret Read MacDonald's The Storyteller's Sourcebook (1982,3-616): 137 Appendix B: Selected Awards and Recommendations 139 Tithe: A Modem Faerie Tale 139 The Hunter's Moon 139 An Earthly Knight 140 Thomas the Rhymer 140 Appendix C: Other Faerie Fiction 141 Novels 141 Short Story Collections 152 Miscellaneous Faerie/Fantasy books 153 Appendix D: Plot Summaries 156 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my advisor, Judith Saltman, for all of her support, recommendations and patience. 1 would also like to thank Alison Acheson for the inspiration she offered as an instructor and the work she did on my committee. 1 am also gratefiil for the support of my friends and family who understood when 1 said, "Sorry, 1 have to stay home and work on my thesis." 1 also owe a debt to all the wonderful authors who never let the old stories disappear. Chapter 1; Introduction As a reader and an educator I realize that quality fantasy has a power that many other genres lack. Tolkien's "On Fairy-Stories" was of great inspiration to me. Tolkien's essay explains what the qualities of fantasy and fairy-story are and why they are important. Tolkien states: Fairy-stories are not in normal English usage stories about Fairy, that is Faerie, the realm or state in which fairies have their being. Faerie contains many things besides elves and fay, and besides dwarfs, witches, trolls, giants, or dragons: it holds the seas, the sun, the moon, the sky; and the earth, and all things that are in it: tree and bird, water and stone, wine and bread, and ourselves, mortal men, when we are enchanted. (1965, 9) Tolkien's words describe epic, or high, fantasy but they started me thinking of the stories that are about fairies. Although some do, fairy tales often do not even involve a single fairy. I knew enough about folkloric fairies to know that the pop-culture image of the sweet diminutive fairy is not a true folkloric one. Over the years I have read fantasies involving fairies that had strong folkloric influences. These novels used the darker aspects of Faerie in very interesting ways. I was curious about how the folklore of Faerie was used in modem fantasy. There is a great deal of writing on the retelling of fairy tales, such as the work of Altmann and de Vos, but the use of fairy folklore in novels has received little academic attention. The information I did find was sparse and written primarily by fantasists. Purpose of the Proposed Research When folklorists study folk literature in general, and fairy tales in particular, they primarily examine the motifs and themes depicted. When looking at fairy tales, they catalogue what motifs are present, and the tale is then quantitatively represented by these motif classifications. Psychoanalysts take a different approach to the study of fairy tales. They analyze the psychological importance, relevance and effect of fairy tales. Children's literature academics have looked at the folkloric aspects of fairy tales in greater depth, going beyond cataloguing to analyse the tales' evolution, tale type and motifs present. In addition, the various modem adaptations of these stories have been examined. Although the scholarship around fairy tales is a fascinating and growing field of research, I was able to find little information analysing stories about the fairies. There is a wealth of fantasy literature that does not draw on specific fairy tales, but is deeply inspired by the rich folklore associated with the fairies. Through this thesis I will investigate this fantasy literature in order to observe what folkloric elements are used by contemporary fantasists, and how they use them. Principal Research Questions I will examine the following principal research questions in this investigation: - What Faerie-related folkloric motifs, themes, characters and settings are present in the chosen contemporary young adult fantasy novels? - How do the selected fantasists use the folkloric material of Faerie in their novels? - How are fairies depicted in these selected fantasies? Are the fairies represented primarily as the frivolous creatures of popular children's culture, or are they closer to the mysterious and dangerous beings in folklore? Thesis Contemporary fantasy authors, drawing on the folklore surrounding fairies, depict both the enchanting and the sinister aspects of the folkloric material. The diminutive, sparkling, winged creatures, popular with Victorian artists, Disney, and contemporary children, rarely find their way into young adult novels. On the rare occasions when these images of fairy do appear in contemporary young adult fantasy, it is often a mse, because these creatures like their companions in Faerie are dangerous and powerfiil begins. Chapter 2; Definitions and Methodology Definitions An analysis of traditional folklore in contemporary young adult fantasy novels must start with a definition of these and related terms. Fantasy Literature There are many definitions of 'fantasy literature.' I adopted the definition in Lynn's Fantasy Literature for Children and Young Adults. Fantasy literature: is a broad term used to describe books in which magic causes impossible, and often wondrous events to occur.... Imaginative fantasies, especially those written for young people over the past quarter-century or so, often contain the most serious of underlying themes. Such themes as the conflict between good and evil, the struggle to preserve joy and hope in a cruel and frightening world, and the acceptance of the inevitability of death. (1989, xix) Young Adult Literature I also used Lyrm's definition of young adult literature: books "written for young people in grades 6 through 12 (ages 11-18), as well as those 'adult' books that have been adopted by young adult readers" (1989, xix). Mythic Fiction and Faerie Fantasy I have used the term Faerie Fantasy as a sub-grouping of the term Mythic Fiction, which was coined by authors Charles de Lint and Terri Windling to describe their own work.... The simplest and best definition of mythic fiction is fiction that draws essential substance from myth, folklore, fairy tale, and legend. The conscious use of mythic themes and tropes - that is elements and language that reflect either figurative or literal use of images, symbols and metaphors from myth and folklore. (Bartel 2006) Faerie Fantasy is the term I use for mythic fiction that draws explicitly on the folklore of Faerie. Folklore Mythic Fiction draws its inspiration from the legacies of the oral tradition: myths, legends, folklore, folktales, and fairy tales. Folklore is the broadest of these terms. It is defined in The Children's Literature Dictionary: Definitions, Resources, and Learning Activities as the "traditional customs, songs, rhymes, riddles, ballads, superstitions, charms, omens, legends, beliefs, fairy tales, fables, myths, dances, rituals, proverbs, riddles, tall tales, etc.
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