Editing English folklore (section)

== Folktales ==
Folklorists have developed frameworks such as the [[Aarne–Thompson–Uther Index|Aarne–Thompson-Uther index]] which categorise folktales first by types of folktales and then by consistent motifs.<ref>{{cite book |last=Aarne |first=Antti |author-link=Antti Aarne |date=1961 |title=The types of the folktale |location=Helsinki |publisher=[[Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia]] |pages=5–19}}</ref> While these stories and characters have differences according to the region of their origin, these motifs are such that there is a national identity of folktales through which these regions have interacted.{{r|Cheeseman & Hart}}

There are likely many characters and stories that have never been recorded and hence were forgotten, but these folktales and their evolutions were often a product of contemporary figures, places, or events local to specific regions.{{r|Simpson}} The below are only a small fraction of examples from the folktale types of English folklore.

=== Creatures ===
[[Dragon]]s are giant winged reptiles that breathe fire, poison and acid. They are usually associated with treasure rooms, waterfalls, and hollowed out tree stumps.

A [[Wyvern]] is a smaller relative of dragons with two legs rather than four. It also has smaller wings and cannot breathe fire.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Snelling |first1=Roy |title=Dragons of Somerset |date=2015 |publisher=Spiritual Genesis Books |isbn=978-1-78301-632-7 |page=13}}</ref>

The [[Black dog (folklore)|black dog]] is a creature which foreshadows calamity or causes it. It is a combination of [[Odysseus]]' Argos and [[Hades]]' [[Cerberus]] from [[Greek mythology]], and [[Fenrir]] from [[Norse mythology]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Zmarzlinski |first=Adam |date=2020 |title=The Black Dog: Origins and Symbolic Characteristics of the Spectral Canine |journal=Cultural Analysis |volume=18}}</ref> The first collection of sightings of the black dog around Great Britain, [[Ethel Rudkin|Ethel Rudkin's]] 1938 article reports that the dog has black fur, abnormally large eyes, and a huge body.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rudkin |first=Ethel |year=1938 |title=The Black Dog |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1257762 |journal=Folklore |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=111–131 |doi=10.1080/0015587X.1938.9718739 |jstor=1257762 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The black dog is a common motif in folklore and appears in many traditional English stories and tales. They often denote death and misfortune close at hand and appear and disappear into thin air.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Quaile |first=Sheilagh |date=2013 |title='The black dog that worries you at home': The Black Dog Motif in Modern English Folklore and Literacy Culture |journal=The Great Lakes Journal of Undergraduate History |volume=1 |issue=1 }}</ref>

A [[boggart]] is, depending on local or regional tradition, a malevolent ''[[genius loci]]'' inhabiting fields, marshes or other topographical features. The household boggart causes objects to disappear, milk to sour, and dogs to go lame. They can possess small animals, fields, churches, or houses so they can play tricks on the civilians with their chilling laugh. Always malevolent, the boggart will follow its family wherever they flee. In Northern England, at least, there was the belief that the boggart should never be named, for when the boggart was given a name, it could not be reasoned with nor persuaded, but would become uncontrollable and destructive.<ref>{{cite book |last=Guiley |first=Rosemary Ellen |author-link=Rosemary Ellen Guiley |date=2007 |title=The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits |location=New York |publisher=[[Facts On File]], Inc.}}</ref>

A [[Brownie (folklore)|brownie]] is a type of [[Hob (folklore)|hob]] (household spirit), similar to a [[hobgoblin]]. Brownies are said to inhabit houses and aid in tasks around the house. However, they do not like to be seen and will only work at night, traditionally in exchange for small gifts or food. Among food, they especially enjoy porridge and honey. They usually abandon the house if their gifts are called payments, or if the owners of the house misuse them. Brownies make their homes in an unused part of the house.<ref>{{cite book |last=Martin |first=M. |date=1716 |title=A description of the Western Islands of Scotland |location=London |publisher=A. Bell |pages=391, 67}}</ref>

A [[Dwarf (folklore)|dwarf]] is a human-shaped entity that dwells in mountains and in the earth, and is associated with wisdom, smithing, mining, and crafting. The term had only started to be used in the 19th century as a translation for the German, French, and [[Scandinavia]]n words which describe dwarfs.{{r|Simpson & Roud}}

[[Ogre]]s are usually tall, strong, violent, greedy, and remarkably dull monsters and they originate from French culture. In folktales they are likely to be defeated by being outsmarted.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Warner |first=M. |title=Paternity and Fatherhood |chapter=Why do Ogres Eat Babies? Monstrous Paternity in Myth and Fairytales |year=1998 |chapter-url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-13816-6_18 |pages=195–203 |doi=10.1007/978-1-349-13816-6_18 |isbn=978-1-349-13818-0 |via=Springer Link}}</ref>

The [[Will-o'-the-wisp]] is a folk explanation of strange, flickering lights seen around [[marsh]]es and [[bog]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Silcock |first1=Fred |editor1-last=Czechura |editor1-first=Gregory |editor2-last=Debus |editor2-first=Stephen J. S. |title=Australian raptor studies II (Birds of Australia Monograph 3) |date=1997 |publisher=Birds Australia |location=Hawthorn East |isbn=978-1-875122-08-0 |chapter=A review of accounts of luminosity in Barn Owls ''Tyto alba'' |url=https://www.owlpages.com/owls/articles.php?a=18 |language=en |via=The Owl Pages}}</ref> Some perceive them as souls of unbaptized infants which lead travellers off the forest path and into danger, while others perceive them as trickster [[Fairy|fairies]] or [[Sprite (folklore)|sprites]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Katharine |last=Briggs |author-link=Katharine Mary Briggs |date=1976 |title=An Encyclopedia of Fairies |publisher=[[Pantheon Books]] |page=381 |isbn=0-394-40918-3}}</ref>

=== Characters and personifications ===
[[File:322 The Romance of King Arthur.jpg|left|thumb|An image of '[[Questing Beast|The Questing Beast]]', a monster slain by King Arthur and his knights in Malory's {{lang|fr|[[Le Morte d'Arthur|Morte Darthur]]}}]]
[[King Arthur]] is the legendary king of the Britons, the Once and Future King and True Born King of England. The origins of King Arthur and his exploits are vague due to the many reproductions of his character. The {{lang|la|[[Historia Brittonum]]}} and the {{lang|la|[[Annales Cambriae]]}} reference many battles of an Arthur, {{lang|la|Annales Cambriae}} also referencing [[Mordred]], a rival, and [[Merlin]], a wise mentor. Although these sources have been used as proof for Arthur's origins, their credibility has been disputed as mythology rather than history.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Green |first=Thomas |title=Concepts of Arthur |publisher=Tempus |date=2007 |isbn=978-0-7524-4461-1 |location=Gloucestershire}}</ref> As English folklore has progressed, King Arthur's retellings have been classified into romances such as [[Thomas Malory|Malory]]'s {{lang|fr|[[Le Morte d'Arthur|Morte Darthur]]}}, chronicles such as [[Geoffrey of Monmouth|Geoffrey]]'s {{lang|la|[[Historia Regum Britanniae]]}}, and fantasies such as {{lang|cy|[[Culhwch and Olwen|Culhwch ac Olwen]]}} (whose author is unknown).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fulton |first=Helen |date=2009 |title=A companion to Arthurian literature |location=Chichester |publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell]] |pages=21–29 |isbn=978-1-4443-0583-8}}</ref>

[[Robin Hood]] was a vicious outlaw who expressed the working-class' disenchantment with the status quo.<ref name="Assayed">{{cite thesis |last=Assayed |first=Layān |date=2015 |title=The Medieval Rhymes of Robin Hood: An Inquiry into Outlaw Territory |publisher=[[University of Haifa]]}}</ref> Through Robin Hood, the forest (called the "greenwood" by folklorists) transformed from the dangerous, mystical battleground of Arthur to a site of sanctuary, comradery, and lawlessness.<ref name="Keen">{{cite book |last=Keen |first=Maurice |date=2001 |title=The Outlaws of Medieval Legend |location=Canada |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] Group |pages=1–8 |isbn=0-203-35004-9}}</ref> Rather than a philanthropic thief of the rich, Robin Hood's tales began in the 15th century as a brutal outlaw, ballads revelling in his violent retaliation to threats. Robin Hood fought to protect himself and his group the [[Merry Men]], regardless the class, age, or gender of their enemy. In stories such as '[[Robin Hood and the Widow's Three Sons]]' and '[[The Tale of Gamelyn]]', the joyful ending is in the hanging of the sheriff and the officials; in '[[Robin Hood and the Monk]]''','' Robin Hood kills a monk and his young helper. Paradoxical to English values of strict adherence to the law and honour, Robin Hood was glorified in ballads and stories for his banishment from society.{{r|Assayed}}

[[Puck (folklore)|Robin Goodfellow]], or Puck, is a shape-changing fairy known for his tricks. Since some English superstition suspected that fairies were demons, 17th century publications such as 'Robin Good-Fellow, his Mad Prankes and Merry Jests' and 'The Anatomy of Melancholy' portrayed him as a demon.<ref name="Simpson & Roud">{{cite book |last1=Simpson |first1=Jacqueline |author1-link=Jacqueline Simpson |last2=Roud |first2=Steve |author2-link=Steve Roud |date=2003 |title=A Dictionary of English Folklore |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-172664-4}}</ref>

[[Lubber fiend|Lob]], also called loby, looby, lubbard, lubber, or lubberkin, is the name given to a fairy with a dark raincloud as a body. It has a mischievous character and can describe any fairy-like creature from British folklore. It can be confused with [[Lubber fiend|Lob Lie-By-The-Fire]], a strong, hairy giant which helps humans.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bane |first1=Theresa |author1-link=Theresa Bane |date=2013 |title=Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology |publisher=McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers |page=219 |isbn=978-0-394-40918-4}}</ref>

=== Stories ===
[[File:Stories of beowulf wiglaf and beowulf.jpg|thumb|183x183px|Beowulf on his deathbed after slaying the dragon that attacked his home. Beside him is [[Wiglaf]], the only soldier to fight with him against the dragon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Project Gutenberg eBook of Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16328/16328-h/16328-h.htm#page_95 |access-date=2022-01-10 |website=www.gutenberg.org}}</ref>]]
[[Beowulf]] is an anonymous Old English historical [[Epic poetry|epic]] of 3182 lines which describes the adventures of its titular character, prince Beowulf of [[Geats]]. The story goes that Beowulf slays [[Grendel]], a monster who has tormented the hall of [[Hrothgar]] King of the Danes for twelve years. Grendel's mother seeks to gain revenge and Beowulf slays her also, after which Beowulf becomes king of the Danes himself. After 50 years, Beowulf's people are tormented by a dragon and Beowulf dies while slaying her.{{sfn|Chambers|2010|p=2}} Original speculation was that Beowulf was a Scandinavian epic translated to English, theorised due to the story's Scandinavian settings. However, Beowulf was cemented as an Old English epic through the study that heroes of folklore are not ordinarily natives of the country they save.{{sfn|Chambers|2010|pp=98–100}}

[[Brown Lady of Raynham Hall|The Brown Lady of Raynham]] is a story of the ghost of a woman of [[Norfolk]], Lady Dorothy Walpole. After her adultery was discovered, she was confined to her chambers until death and roamed the halls of [[Raynham Hall|Raynham]], named after the brown brocade she wears. Differing versions of the story attest that she was locked in by her husband, Lord Townsend, or by the Countess of Wharton.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rye |first=W. |date=1877 |title=The Norfolk Antiquarian Miscellany |publisher=Samuel Miller and Co |volume=2 |page=292}}</ref>

The [[Legend of the Mistletoe Bough]] is a ghost story which has been associated with many mansions and stately homes in England. The tale describes how a new bride, playing a game of hide-and-seek during her wedding breakfast, hid in a chest in an attic and was unable to escape. She was not discovered by her family and friends, and suffocated. The body was allegedly found many years later in the locked chest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mistletoe Bough |url=http://www.users.dialstart.net/~2metres/poetry/mistletoebough/mistletoebough.htm |access-date=10 January 2022 |website=user.dialstart}}</ref>