Uncertain Glory: Folklore and the American Revolution

ISBN 10: 0810350408 ISBN 13: 9780810350403

Publisher: Folklore Associates/Gale

Synopsis

The author's specific definition of folklore, which he feels a necessary preamble to this discussion of the subject as it relates to the American Revolution, was included in an essay he had written previously for the "South Atlantic Quarterly": "Folklore is, of course, individually created art that a homogeneous group or people who don't, won't, or can't write preserve, vary, and recreate as they pass it along from mouth to ear and ear to mouth. In America, folklore has come to mean myths, legends, tales, songs, proverbs, riddles, superstitions, rhymes, and other forms of literary expression. Related to written literature, and frequently transcribed for one reason or another, it loses its vitality when it is removed from its oral existence. Though folklore may exist in either literate or illiterate societies, its cultural significance is bound to increase when illiteracy is widespread. Someone has described it is "illiterature" - not a bad definition at all." There are two parts to "Uncertain Glory," Part I dealing with folklore as it goes to war, and Part II dealing with the "fakelore" (popular, but trite and formulaic, literature which masquerades as the product of oral tradition) that is able to survive in a highly educated nation like 20th century America. It would be tedious, in fact impossible, the author notes, to make either Part I or Part II anything near all-encompassing and so the approach in both sections is selective, illustrative.

Edition details

• Publisher: Folklore Associates/Gale
• ISBN 10: 0810350408
• ISBN 13: 9780810350403
• Binding: Textbook Binding
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 270