Folktale Quote by Geoffrey Harvey
““An important dimension of Tess of the d’Urbervilles is its debt to the oral tradition; to stories about wronged milkmaids, tales of superstition, and stories of love, betrayal and revenge, involving stock figures. This gives Tess of the d’Urbervilles an anti-realistic inflection. From the world of ballad and folktale Hardy draws such fateful coincidences as the failure of Angel to encounter Tess at the ‘Club-walking’ on which he intrudes with his brothers, the letter to Angel that she accidentally slips under the carpet, the loss of her shoes when she tries to visit his family, and the family portraits on the wall of their honeymoon dwelling, as well as several omens. This chimes effectively with a world in which the rural folk have a superstitious and fatalistic attitude to life.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, 1891
Hardy blends folk‑tale motifs with realism, giving the novel a mythic, fatalistic tone through coincidences and omens.
In simple terms: Hardy mixes folk stories with realistic life, creating a mythic feel.
Key Takeaway
Notice how narrative structure shapes perception of fate.
Themes
literature
folklore
fatalism
realism
mythic
Mood
reflective
analytical
thoughtful
Type
critical
interpretive
literary.
When to use this quote
- academic analysis
- teaching literature
- creative writing
- film adaptation
- cultural studies
Key Concepts
oral tradition
coincidence
superstition
fate
character archetype
Questions to Reflect On
- How does mythic framing affect empathy for Tess?
- What role do omens play in shaping reader expectations?
A Different Perspective
Folkloric elements may oversimplify complex social issues.
