English Language and Literature ETDs

Publication Date

4-9-1970

Abstract

This study, I believe, has shown a number of things about Thoreau as a folklorist which have not been seen before. He was America's first comprehensive folklorist not only in terms of collecting vast amounts of folktales, folkpoems, legends and myths but also in terms of theorizing on the formation of folklore. Thoreau made literary use of his folklore knowledge by creating pieces imitative of anonymous folklore as well as by couching his style with indigenous and European mythological and legendary allusions. While some critics have discussed Thoreau's collecting of folklore in his published writings and his attempts at imitation of folklore, none has examined to any degree whatsoever (as is shown in Chapter I) Thoreau's theories of the formation of myths, fables or legends. In addition none has examined the eleven unpublished volumes of the "Indian Notebooks" for evidence of Thoreau's folklore interests, and no critic has systematically analyzed Thoreau's entire works tor folklore imitation and allusion. Thoreau's unsystematic theories of folklore formation have been pieced together in Chapter II of this dissertation. He believed that (1) primitive experiences served as the basis of a folktale or folkpoem which later became fleshed out into more sophisticated myths or vestige poems which in turn served as tropes or subjects for more modern literature, and (2) horrendous, primordial nature inspired primitive minds to create dragons out of mist or monsters out of clouds because Thoreau himself was similarly inspired, and he simply worked backward to the pre-present, (3) new mythology of present times is inspired by older folklore, and (4) folklore is a continuum in that it is and will always be the result of human imagination as long as primordial nature and memory of earlier mythology continue to exist. Chapters III, IV and V attempt to illustrate in detail the results of Thoreau's literary interests in folklore. His use of folklore for purposes of moral analogue, humor and satire as well as for allusions which universalize his style are illustrated and analyzed comprehensively for the first time. In addition to discussing the entire works of Walden, A Week, Cape Cod and "A Yankee in Canada." as imitative myths, this dissertation compiles and analyzes all existing individual passages (which are more numerous than one may realize) that can be termed as "Thoreauvian folklore." The appendix of this dissertation examines for the first time the eleven volumes of the "Indian Notebooks" which contain an amazing number of primitive myths, tales and legends of the North American Indian tribes. My method of analysis in this dissertation, then, has been to uncover Thoreau's theories of folklore formation in his published writings, his employment of folklore for enhancing his literary style, his attempting to create pieces imitative of world folklore and finally his transcribing of myths, tales and legends in the unpublished "Indian Notebooks." It is hoped that this study of Henry David Thoreau’s preoccupation with folklore for most all of his life will shed new light on the mind and imagination of this increasingly significant American author.

Degree Name

English

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

English

First Committee Member (Chair)

Edith Buchanan

Second Committee Member

George Warren Arms

Third Committee Member

Joseph Marshall Kuntz

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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