The Symbolism and Sources of Outlander: The Scottish Fairies, Folklore, Ballads, Magic and Meanings That Inspired the Series

by Valerie Estelle Frankel

Overview

Outlander is much more than a television romance about a World War II nurse and a Jacobite soldier in a fetching kilt. The series--and the massive serial novel on which it is based--has been categorized as a period drama, adventure saga, military history and fantasy epic. Inspired by the Irish legends of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the prophecies of Brahan Seer, the storyline is filled with mythology and symbolism from around the world, from the Fair Folk and the Loch Ness monster to wendigos, ghosts, zombies and succubae.

Literary references abound, from the Bible to the classics, to Shakespeare and the English romantic poets. The series is also rich with its own symbolism: heather and white roses, the dragonfly in amber, Claire's blue vase and wedding gown, her wedding rings and pearl necklace. This book untangles the myriad of myths, legends, symbols and literary references found in the series.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786499526
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	04/28/2015
Pages:	220
Sales rank:	401,319
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Valerie Estelle Frankel teaches English at Mission College and San Jose City College. The author of more than 90 popular culture books and more than 100 stories and essays, she lives in Sunnyvale, California.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Symbols

Book Titles and Covers 5

Clothes 18

Jewelry 30

Animals 37

Plants 42

Television Symbols 44

Character Symbols 47

Literature and Music

Literature 57

Writing on Writing 65

Literary Anachronisms 66

Music 74

Myth

Myth and the Standing Stones 81

Sun Feasts and Fire Feasts 95

Scottish Folklore

Introduction 105

Fairies and Their Kin 107

Gods, Saints, and Devils 125

Local Legends 135

Magical Animals 139

People and Their Talents 143

Rituals and Ritual Tools 164

Other Cultures' Folklore

Caribbean-African/Vodou 173

China 176

Europe 180

Native American 190

Norse Myth 195

Conclusion 196

Appendix 1 Titles in the Outlander Series 197

Appendix 2 The Starz Series Cast and Creators 199

Bibliography 201

Index 205