English Folklore: An Investigation into the Role of Folk Stories and Customs in Shaping a Local Identity

Max Harding-Jones

Folklore in its simplest form describes people and the stories they tell. This dissertation explores the localised traditions and stories within smaller communities to show how folklore highlights the idea of a local identity within a global world. Within this global world folklore has become a way for communities to engage with each other and their own histories. The research considers the position of English folklore, specifically as it is often overlooked in comparison to the bordering nations. This is arguably in part due to English iconography being co-opted by the far right as well as the position of England’s role in colonisation. With a focus on local identities, it is also became vital to consider the role of queer identities within the discussion. This dissertation shines a light on the dismissal of LGBTQIA+ stories from outside of the metropolitan and aims to highlight the prominent role of queer identities within folklore as well as within rural settings. It is through queer identities and other marginalised groups that folklore has found a place within the discussion of contemporary narratives. These contemporary retellings have utilised folklore to discuss complex ideas such as gender and sexuality. The research also draws parallels between this influx and the recent Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and the ongoing climate crisis as being relevant in the desire to look for an idealised past.