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:	9781476621166
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	04/07/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	220
File size:	3 MB
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.
Valerie Estelle Frankel teaches English at Mission College and San Jose City College. The author of 90 popular culture books and more than 100 stories and essays, she lives in Sunnyvale, California.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction
Symbols
Book Titles and Covers
Clothes
Jewelry
Animals
Plants
Show Symbols
Other Symbols
Literature and Music
Literature
Writing on Writing
Literary Anachronisms
Music
Myth
Myth and the Standing Stones
Sun Feasts and Fire Feasts
Scottish Folklore
Introduction
Fairies and Their Kin
Gods, Saints, and Devils
Local Legends
Magical Animals
People and Their Talents
Rituals and Ritual Tools
Other Cultures’ Folklore
Caribbean-African/Vodou
China
Europe
Native American
Norse Myth
Conclusion
Appendix 1: Titles in the Outlander Series
Appendix 2: The Starz Series Cast and Creators
Bibliography
Index