Folk-lore of Shakespeare

Name: Folk-lore of Shakespeare
Author: T. F. Thiselton-Dyer

By T. F. Thiselton-Dyer

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About This Book

A thematic survey examines the folk beliefs, customs, and popular imagery embedded in Shakespeare's plays, arranging material by topics such as fairies, witches, ghosts, demonology, natural phenomena, animals, plants, insects, folk medicine, seasonal and life-cycle rites, sports, dances, proverbs, and miscellaneous superstitions. For each topic the author collects relevant passages, traces their origins in popular tradition and classical or medieval sources, explains vocabulary and etymology, and offers comparative notes and local folk parallels. The work combines literary quotation, historical comment, and folkloric scholarship to show how popular traditions informed the plays' language and imagery.

About the Author

T. F. Thiselton-Dyer

T. F. Thiselton-Dyer was a British author and folklorist known for his extensive contributions to the study of folklore and popular customs. His works often explore the social and domestic manners of people, as seen in his notable book "British Popular Customs, Present and Past," which arranges customs according to the calendar year. Thiselton-Dyer's writings also delve into the folklore surrounding Shakespeare, the eccentricities of royalty, and the supernatural, as exemplified in titles like "The Ghost World" and "The Folk-lore of Plants." His scholarly approach has made a lasting impact on the understanding of cultural traditions and beliefs.