Mr. Fox
  • Sep 15, 2016 6:00 am
  • 21:12 mins

This first folktale has French, German, and English variations, but an early, early reference can actually be traced to Act 1, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing: “Like the old tale, my lord: it is not so, not ‘t was not so; but indeed, God forbid it should be so.” In 1697, Charles Perrault wrote and published a tale of an enigmatic nobleman in the habit of murdering his wives, and the attempts of one wife to avoid the fate of her predecessors. Like all good fairy and folktales, it would morph and change and travel to other cultures where it then appeared in this structure as “The Robber Bridegroom” in a collection of fairytales by the Brothers Grimm. Later, in 1890, Joseph Jacobs’ collection of English Fairy Tales would include this frightening folktale. To learn more about Donna Washington visit www.dlwstoryteller.com

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Although stories were told about Jack throughout the Southern Appalachians, one family group has received recognition by the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress as having told the tales in an unbroken line of descendants since 1775. The Hicks, Harmons, and Wards, the first families to settle on the Watauga River, passed the tales down for two hundred years before they were written for everyone to enjoy. In this Jack tale, Jack catches wind of some witching in his town. The presence of witches and magic in folklore often represents and symbolize humanity’s relationship with the unknown and unexplained, and throughout history there is no better way to navigate the mysteries of life-- and teach the kiddos a few lessons—than through story. To learn more about Mary Hamilton visit www.maryhamilton.info

Although stories were told about Jack throughout the Southern Appalachians, one family group has received recognition by the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress as having told the tales in an unbroken line of descendants since 1775. The Hicks, Harmons, and Wards, the first families to settle on the Watauga River, passed the tales down for two hundred years before they were written for everyone to enjoy. In this Jack tale, Jack catches wind of some witching in his town. The presence of witches and magic in folklore often represents and symbolize humanity’s relationship with the unknown and unexplained, and throughout history there is no better way to navigate the mysteries of life-- and teach the kiddos a few lessons—than through story. To learn more about Mary Hamilton visit www.maryhamilton.info