Folklore Glossary
Key terms, methods, and interpretive vocabulary tied to this encyclopedia section.
B
ballad
A concise seed definition of ballad as a narrative song central to oral tradition and communal memory.
C
cryptid
A concise seed definition of cryptid as a legendary or unverified creature sustained by story and fringe belief.
custom
A concise seed definition of custom as repeated communal practice carrying symbolic or practical meaning.
custom cycle
A concise seed definition of custom cycle as a recurring sequence of traditional practices tied to seasons, work, or community life.
E
F
fairy tale
A concise seed definition of fairy tale as a wonder-centered narrative shaped by motifs, tests, and transformation.
fakelore
A concise seed definition of fakelore as manufactured or commercialized tradition presented as authentic folklore.
Folk Belief and Custom
A guide to Folk Belief and Custom within Folklore, outlining its meaning, major questions, and the related topics readers should explore next.
Folklore
An accessible overview of Folklore, covering what the field includes, how its main areas fit together, and why it matters in a connected encyclopedia.
formulaic phrase
A concise seed definition of formulaic phrase as a repeated verbal unit that supports oral memory and performance.
L
legend
A concise seed definition of legend as a story told as plausible within a recognizable world.
legend trip
A concise seed definition of legend trip as a journey to a place associated with a story, haunting, rumor, or legendary event.
Legends and Tales
A guide to Legends and Tales within Folklore, outlining its meaning, major questions, and the related topics readers should explore next.
liminality
A concise seed definition of liminality as the unstable in-between condition where ordinary rules loosen and transition becomes symbolically dense.
M
memorate
A concise seed definition of memorate as a first-person supernatural experience narrative told as true.
memorate
A concise seed definition of memorate as a first-person account of an extraordinary or supernatural experience.
migratory legend
A concise seed definition of migratory legend as a story pattern that travels widely across regions while changing local details.
motif
A concise seed definition of motif as a recurring narrative element used for comparison across stories.
N
narrative ecology
A concise seed definition of narrative ecology as the network of stories, settings, people, and practices that allow a tale to circulate and persist.
O
oral tradition
A concise seed definition of oral tradition as the transmission of story, belief, and custom through performance and memory.
Oral Traditions
A guide to Oral Traditions within Folklore, outlining its meaning, major questions, and the related topics readers should explore next.
ostension
A concise seed definition of ostension as the acting out of a legend, rumor, or narrative script in lived behavior.
otherworld
A concise seed definition of the otherworld as a parallel realm of spirits, beings, or transformed reality.
P
performance
A concise seed definition of performance as the live, situated act through which folklore changes with voice, audience, and setting.
performance context
A concise seed definition of performance context as the social setting, audience, occasion, and tone in which folklore is told or enacted.
T
taboo
A concise seed definition of taboo as a culturally marked prohibition tied to danger, purity, or sacred order.
tale type
A concise seed definition of tale type as a recurring plot structure used in folklore classification.
threshold
A concise seed definition of threshold as a symbolic border where danger, change, encounter, or protection is often concentrated.
trickster
A concise seed definition of trickster as a boundary-breaking figure who disrupts order and reveals social truth.
U
urban legend
A concise seed definition of urban legend as a contemporary rumor-story that circulates as plausible warning or entertainment.
V
vernacular archive
A concise seed definition of vernacular archive as a community-kept record of memory, tradition, and local meaning outside formal institutions.
vernacular religion
A concise seed definition of vernacular religion as everyday lived belief beyond formal doctrine.
vernacular religion
A concise seed definition of vernacular religion as lived religious practice shaped by local custom, domestic ritual, sacred stories, and inherited belief.
vernacular religion
A concise seed definition of vernacular religion as lived religious practice shaped by local belief, household ritual, and informal tradition.
W
wonder tale
A concise seed definition of wonder tale as a narrative centered on marvels, magical testing, and transformation.