The Queen of Elfan's Nourice explained
"The Queen of Elfan's Nourice" or "The Queen of Elfland's Nourice" is Child ballad number 40,[1] although fragmentary in form.[2]
Synopsis
A mortal woman laments being taken from her four-day-old son. The Queen of Elfland promises that if she nurses the queen's child, she will be returned. The Queen then points out their path: the road to Elfland, rather than to Heaven or Hell.[3]
Motifs
The path to Elfland appears to be taken from the ballad "Thomas the Rhymer" rather than be a part of this tale.[4]
The plot of the ballad revolves about a common piece of folklore, the taking of human woman to Elfland to nurse fairy babies;[5] women were often regarded as being in particular danger of being taken by the fairies immediately after giving birth.[6]
This ballad was one of 25 traditional works included in Ballads Weird and Wonderful (1912) and illustrated by Vernon Hill.[7]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- [Francis James Child]
- Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v 1, p 358, Dover Publications, New York 1965
- Web site: The Queen of Elfan's Nourice. Waltz. Robert B.. Engle. David G.. Folklore The Traditional Ballad Index: An Annotated Bibliography of the Folk Songs of the English-Speaking World. California State University, Fresno. 2012. 2017-11-20.
- Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v 1, p 358, Dover Publications, New York 1965
- Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v 1, p 358-9, Dover Publications, New York 1965
- Carole B. Silver, Strange and Secret Peoples: Fairies and Victorian Consciousness, p 167
- Web site: Willy's Lady. Chope. R.P.. Ballads Weird and Wonderful. 5–6. Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.. 1912. 2017-11-19.
