Newfoundland fairy traditions : a study in narrative and belief
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1990. Folklore Bibliography: leaves 569-605 This is a study of fairy traditions in Newfoundland, based on material from the Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (mostly student collections made within the past twenty-f...
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Other Authors: | |
Format: | Thesis |
Language: | English |
Published: |
1990
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses3/id/199930 |
id |
ftmemorialunivdc:oai:collections.mun.ca:theses3/199930 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftmemorialunivdc:oai:collections.mun.ca:theses3/199930 2023-05-15T17:23:33+02:00 Newfoundland fairy traditions : a study in narrative and belief Rieti, Barbara Gaye, 1952- Memorial University of Newfoundland. Dept. of Folklore Canada--Newfoundland and Labrador 1990 ix, 605 leaves : ill., maps Image/jpeg; Application/pdf http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses3/id/199930 eng eng Electronic Theses and Dissertations (76.28 MB) -- http://collections.mun.ca/PDFs/theses/Rieti_BarbaraGaye.pdf 76072901 http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses3/id/199930 The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Paper copy kept in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University Libraries Fairies--Newfoundland and Labrador Text Electronic thesis or dissertation 1990 ftmemorialunivdc 2015-08-06T19:20:53Z Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1990. Folklore Bibliography: leaves 569-605 This is a study of fairy traditions in Newfoundland, based on material from the Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (mostly student collections made within the past twenty-five years) and on field research on the Avalon Peninsula. It examines meanings and uses of concepts of the fairies, both as identified by informants and as suggested through the collation of texts. I argue that on a textual level meaning can be found in explicit and implicit themes: the first refers to overt narrative content (stories of changelings or going astray, for example), the second to cultural concerns which, I suggest, find metaphorical expression in fairy traditions. Analysis of this kind is subordinated, however, to consideration of the individual narrator and situation, for a contextual, ethnographic approach shows that emic interpretation varies widely, and the same content functions in different ways for different informants. I have sought to avoid abstraction and generalization on the nature and functions of fairy traditions (especially in the matter of "belief”) which, in ignoring the individuality of tradition bearers, can result in a partial picture at best, and a distorted one at worst. -- In accordance with this ethnographic emphasis, I have centered all chapters but the first on my informants and the issues their narratives raise. The first chapter sets in international historical context the assertion that modern traditions are but faded remains of a moribund belief system, by showing that this view is both a folk and literary convention of long standing which has rhetorical uses; the proposition that "everyone used to believe" is shown to be dubious, for even when contextual information is unavailable, it can be seen from content alone that there have always been sceptics. The next six chapters document what people told me, illustrate the complexities of dealing with belief, and conclude that the fairies, amorphous and polymorphous, have always been eminently adaptable and continue to lend themselves to a multiplicity of uses. Thesis Newfoundland studies University of Newfoundland Memorial University of Newfoundland: Digital Archives Initiative (DAI) Canada Newfoundland |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Memorial University of Newfoundland: Digital Archives Initiative (DAI) |
op_collection_id |
ftmemorialunivdc |
language |
English |
topic |
Fairies--Newfoundland and Labrador |
spellingShingle |
Fairies--Newfoundland and Labrador Rieti, Barbara Gaye, 1952- Newfoundland fairy traditions : a study in narrative and belief |
topic_facet |
Fairies--Newfoundland and Labrador |
description |
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1990. Folklore Bibliography: leaves 569-605 This is a study of fairy traditions in Newfoundland, based on material from the Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (mostly student collections made within the past twenty-five years) and on field research on the Avalon Peninsula. It examines meanings and uses of concepts of the fairies, both as identified by informants and as suggested through the collation of texts. I argue that on a textual level meaning can be found in explicit and implicit themes: the first refers to overt narrative content (stories of changelings or going astray, for example), the second to cultural concerns which, I suggest, find metaphorical expression in fairy traditions. Analysis of this kind is subordinated, however, to consideration of the individual narrator and situation, for a contextual, ethnographic approach shows that emic interpretation varies widely, and the same content functions in different ways for different informants. I have sought to avoid abstraction and generalization on the nature and functions of fairy traditions (especially in the matter of "belief”) which, in ignoring the individuality of tradition bearers, can result in a partial picture at best, and a distorted one at worst. -- In accordance with this ethnographic emphasis, I have centered all chapters but the first on my informants and the issues their narratives raise. The first chapter sets in international historical context the assertion that modern traditions are but faded remains of a moribund belief system, by showing that this view is both a folk and literary convention of long standing which has rhetorical uses; the proposition that "everyone used to believe" is shown to be dubious, for even when contextual information is unavailable, it can be seen from content alone that there have always been sceptics. The next six chapters document what people told me, illustrate the complexities of dealing with belief, and conclude that the fairies, amorphous and polymorphous, have always been eminently adaptable and continue to lend themselves to a multiplicity of uses. |
author2 |
Memorial University of Newfoundland. Dept. of Folklore |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Rieti, Barbara Gaye, 1952- |
author_facet |
Rieti, Barbara Gaye, 1952- |
author_sort |
Rieti, Barbara Gaye, 1952- |
title |
Newfoundland fairy traditions : a study in narrative and belief |
title_short |
Newfoundland fairy traditions : a study in narrative and belief |
title_full |
Newfoundland fairy traditions : a study in narrative and belief |
title_fullStr |
Newfoundland fairy traditions : a study in narrative and belief |
title_full_unstemmed |
Newfoundland fairy traditions : a study in narrative and belief |
title_sort |
newfoundland fairy traditions : a study in narrative and belief |
publishDate |
1990 |
url |
http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses3/id/199930 |
op_coverage |
Canada--Newfoundland and Labrador |
geographic |
Canada Newfoundland |
geographic_facet |
Canada Newfoundland |
genre |
Newfoundland studies University of Newfoundland |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland studies University of Newfoundland |
op_source |
Paper copy kept in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University Libraries |
op_relation |
Electronic Theses and Dissertations (76.28 MB) -- http://collections.mun.ca/PDFs/theses/Rieti_BarbaraGaye.pdf 76072901 http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses3/id/199930 |
op_rights |
The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. |
_version_ |
1766113192907374592 |