DIPLOMARBEIT Titel der Diplomarbeit „Irish Folklore and Mythology in Irish Young Adult Fantasy Literature: Kate Thompson’s The New Policeman, and O.R. Melling’s The Hunter’s Moon.“ Verfasserin Monika Kraigher angestrebter akademischer Grad Magistra der Philosophie (Mag.phil.) Wien, im Januar 2013 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 343 Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt: Anglistik und Amerikanistik Betreuer: Ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Franz Wöhrer To my grandmother, for her love, guidance and support... I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Wöhrer for his exceptional guidance and patience. Thank you to my mother who has supported and motivated me unconditionally during my studies and in my everyday life. Finally, I would like to thank my friends and colleagues, notably the “gang“ from the Australian literature room, who were a great mental support during the work on this diploma thesis. DECLARATION OF AUTHENTICITY I confirm to have conceived and written this Diploma 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. Table of contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 2. Irish Children’s and Young Adult Literature ......................................................... 3 2.1. Children’s Literature: Towards a Definition................................................................ 3 2.1.1. A Historic Overview of Children’s Literature........................................................... 8 2.2. Young Adult Literature................................................................................................. 18 2.2.1. Characteristics of Young Adult Literature ............................................................... 25 2.3. Irish Children’s and Young Adult Literature............................................................. 28 2.3.1. The Tradition of Irish Children’s Literature............................................................. 28 2.3.2. The Conservatism of Irish Children’s Literature...................................................... 34 2.3.3. Irish Young Adult Literature.................................................................................... 39 3. Irish Mythology and Folklore in Irish Fantasy Literature .................................... 43 3.1. Fantasy Literature ......................................................................................................... 43 3.1.1. Mythic Fiction .......................................................................................................... 47 3.1.2. Fairy Tale versus Folktale ........................................................................................ 47 3.1.3. Myth versus Legend ................................................................................................. 48 3.2. Irish Folklore.................................................................................................................. 50 3.3. The Irish Literary Revival, or, the Period of the Retellings of Irish Myths............... 51 3.4. Language and Orality: The Difficulty to Trace Down Original Irish Myths........... 57 3.5. The Four Main Cycles of Irish Mythology .................................................................. 62 3.6. Irish Mythology and Folklore in Irish Fantasy Literature ........................................ 66 4. Kate Thompson’s The New Policeman (2005)........................................................ 69 4.1. Plot................................................................................................................................... 69 4.2. Genre – An Irish Young Adult Fantasy Novel............................................................ 69 4.3. Setting and the Pagan Chronotope............................................................................... 72 4.4. Mythology and Folklore in TNP ................................................................................... 76 4.4.1. Narrative Levels ....................................................................................................... 78 4.4.2. Content Level ........................................................................................................... 80 4.4.2.1. Oisín in Tír na nÓg ..........................................................................................................80 4.4.2.2. The Pigs of Angus............................................................................................................81 4.4.2.3. The Death of Bran............................................................................................................83 4.5. The Representation of Mythic Characters and Creatures......................................... 85 4.5.1. Trooping Fairies ....................................................................................................... 85 4.5.1.1. Aengus Óg........................................................................................................................88 4.5.1.2. The Dagda........................................................................................................................92 4.5.2. Solitary Fairies.......................................................................................................... 94 4.5.2.1. Leprechauns .....................................................................................................................95 4.5.2.2. The púka...........................................................................................................................96 4.6. Aspects of Irishness........................................................................................................ 97 4.6.1. Modernity versus Tradition ...................................................................................... 97 4.6.2. Traditional Irish Music and Folk Dance................................................................... 98 4.6.3. Superstition............................................................................................................. 100 4.6.4. Dichotomy between the Pagan Heritage and Christian Belief ............................... 100 5. O.R. Melling’s The Hunter’s Moon (2005) ........................................................... 103 5.1. Plot................................................................................................................................. 103 5.2. Genre – An Irish Young Adult Fantasy novel........................................................... 104 5.3. Setting and the Pagan Chronotope in THM .............................................................. 106 5.4. Mythology and Folklore in THM................................................................................ 113 5.4.1. Narrative Levels ..................................................................................................... 115 5.4.2. Content Level ......................................................................................................... 118 5.4.2.1. The Fairy Doctress.........................................................................................................118 5.4.2.2. The Horned Women.......................................................................................................119 5.4.2.3. The Changeling..............................................................................................................120 5.4.2.4. Diarmuid and Gráinne....................................................................................................121 5.5. The Representation of Mythic Characters and Creatures....................................... 121 5.5.1. Trooping Fairies ..................................................................................................... 121 5.5.1.1. Midir...............................................................................................................................124 5.5.1.2. Finvarra ..........................................................................................................................126 5.5.2. Solitary Fairies........................................................................................................ 128 5.5.2.1. The leprechaun...............................................................................................................128 5.5.2.2. The Banshee...................................................................................................................130 5.6. Aspects of Irishness...................................................................................................... 130 5.6.1. Old Ireland versus New Ireland.............................................................................. 130 5.6.2. Superstition............................................................................................................. 132 5.6.3. Hospitality .............................................................................................................. 133 5.6.4. Pub culture.............................................................................................................. 133 6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 135 7. Bibliography...........................................................................................................