Irish Folklore

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at typical Irish folklore, focusing on the wake, an event held following the death of a loved one. The writer compares traditional Irish wakes to those of the more subdued type commonly held in America today. The paper includes some literary references to Irish culture, including famous characters and people often referred to in Irish folklore.

Contents
The Wake in Ireland
The Traditional Irish Lament
The "Merry Wake"
Preludes to Death
The Moment of Dying
Samhain, Halloween, and the Translation of the Irish Wake into America
Heroes and Magic
Folklore Case Study
Washington Irving

From the Paper:

"In Irish folktales, the outlaw hero is more than a criminal. He is meant to provide a means for ordinary men and women to surmount political defeats vicariously through brief victories. As the keening at a wake carries the honor of the deceased, the hero carries forward the honor of the people. The stories appeal to exactly the same population that enjoys a good wake. Croker observed that the popularity of outlaw stories was a prominent feature of rural life, as were the wakes, and it was common "to hear the adventures and escapes of highwaymen and outlaws recited by the lower orders with the greatest minuteness, and dwelt on with a surprising fondness". (Croker, cited in Cashman, 2000, unpaged) Indeed, a chapbook about the lives and actions of notorious Irish highwaymen, real and imaginary, was used as a text in the "hedge schools" run in the countryside."

More papers on Irish Folklore:

• Essay # 54789 : "Irish Folklore"
• Analytical Essay # 58428 : "W.B. Yeats and the Irish Renaissance"
• Research Paper # 22313 : "Leprechauns"

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