Folklore and Storytelling: A Narrative Match Made in Heaven

About this episode

This episode explores the relationship between storytelling and folklore, highlighting their differences and connections.

Storytelling is something we all do on a daily basis, whether we’re aware of it or not. Maybe we’re telling a funny anecdote about something that happened on the way to work. Perhaps we’re recounting how we first met the bride during a wedding speech. Or how about retelling our favourite folk tale to help soothe a child to sleep? Storytelling and folklore are not synonyms. Folklore is a body of knowledge created primarily by the people for transmission between themselves. Folk tales are the stories told by these same people, though the definition of a folk tale varies. Yet storytelling can be the bridge between the two, enabling the ongoing transmission of folklore from a teller to a group of avid listeners. The English and Welsh storytelling revival began in the early 1980s, and we can thank its success for the plethora of storytelling events, books, and podcasts now available. So let’s look at how storytelling links with folklore in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! See the episode contributors here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/episode-contributors/ Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-and-storytelling/ Check…

People in this episode

Host: Icy Sedgwick

Topics covered

• storytelling
• folklore
• cultural transmission
• narrative
• folk tales
• storytelling revival

Keywords

• storytelling
• folklore
• folk tales
• cultural transmission
• narrative
• storytelling revival
• anecdotes

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Folklore Centre

Books & works: Little History of Storytelling

More episodes of Fabulous Folklore with Icy

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• Elizabeth Blackwell: Pioneering Herbalist and Botanical Illustrator · June 6, 2026 · 19 min
• Revenants on the Redway with Dr Steph Lay · May 27, 2026 · 60 min
• Folklore and Cinema: The Trick Films of Georges Méliès · May 23, 2026 · 26 min
• The Folklore of Stringed Musical Instruments: The Viola, Irish Harp, Violin, and Guitar · May 16, 2026 · 21 min
• Theatre Superstitions: Whistling, the Ghost Light, and Macbeth · May 9, 2026 · 48 min