A History of Folklore



Overview

Where did the idea of ‘folklore’ come from, and how has it shaped the way we understand culture, tradition and identity in Britain? 

This course traces the development of folklore studies in the British Isles, from 17th-century antiquarians and the coining of the term folklore in 1846, to the present day. Through lectures and seminars, you’ll explore how ideas about ‘the folk’ have evolved,  and how they continue to influence the discipline today. 

Along the way, the course covers major movements and milestones: the 18th-century ballad revival, romantic nationalism, the impact of philology, and the rise of folklore as a distinct scholarly field. You'll examine the influence of international approaches to classification and research, the tensions between local and national identities, and the revivalist energies of the folk song movement. 

Finally, the course looks at how folklore scholarship was re-energised in the 20th century after a period of decline, and considers its role in the modern world, offering a fresh perspective on how stories, customs and everyday practices help shape who we are. 

This course combines online study with a weekly 1-hour live webinar led by your tutor. Find out more about how our short online courses are taught.

Programme details

This course begins on the 15 January 2026 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 22 January 2026, 2:00-3:00pm (UK time).

  • Week 1: What Is Folklore? This general introduction to the language and topics of the discipline will outline broad definitions as a way of highlighting the history to be studied. It will locate the British history in the context of American and European scholarship.
  • Week 2: Popular Antiquities. Early influences on the formation of folklore in the work of antiquarians like John Aubrey, Henry Bourne and John Brand, and Thomas Percy's ballad collection.
  • Week 3: Romanticism and Enlightenment. The Romantic nationalism of James Macpherson's 'Ossian', and Johann Gottfried Herder.
  • Week 4: Philology. The Brothers Grimm, combining narrative research with philological study, paving the way to William John Thoms's neologism 'folklore' (1846).
  • Week 5: Anthropological Theories. The first flourishing of folklore as a discipline, with the early anthropological reflections of Edward Burnett Tylor, Max Müller and Richard Dorson's 'Great Team' of Folklore Society pioneers.
  • Week 6: International Folkloristics. Setting British folklore in its international context, above all the classificatory systems of eg Kaarle Krohn.
  • Week 7: National Causes. Looks at later nationalist developments, particularly in Ireland with the work of Douglas Hyde, Lady Augusta Gregory and WB Yeats.
  • Week 8: Revivalism. The folk song movement of the early twentieth century adopted a very specific approach to folklore materials and their use, typified above all by Cecil Sharp.
  • Week 9: Decline and Resurgence. After a period of stagnation, folklore studies revived under various impulses, including the work of the Opies, Hamish Henderson, and George Ewart Evans.
  • Week 10: Salvaged or Renewed? Recent developments, including where we are today.

Certification

Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points 

Coursework is an integral part of all online courses and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework. All those enrolled on an online courses are registered for credit and will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

See more information on CATS points

Digital credentials

All students who pass their final assignment will be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so. 

Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. 

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £360.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutors

Dr Paul Cowdell

Paul Cowdell has published on various aspects of folklore research and disciplinary history. After studying Classics at Magdalene College, Cambridge he took an MA in Folklore at the University of Sheffield and completed a PhD on contemporary belief in ghosts at the University of Hertfordshire. A member of the Council of the Folklore Society, he serves as Associate Editor of its journal Folklore and sits on the editorial board of the Folk Music Journal.

Prof David Hopkin

David Hopkin is Professor of European Social History at the University of Oxford and current President of the Folklore Society.  He has written on folktales, songs, legends, riddles and other oral genres as well as on the history of folklore.

Course aims

  • To provide an overview of the study of folklore, and approaches to folklore, as it developed historically in Britain, from its seventeenth-century precursors up to the current period.
  • By conducting an historical and thematic examination of the development of folklore studies and approaches to folklore in Britain, from its inception to the modern day, to familiarise students with the key concepts and arguments in the discipline.

Teaching methods

Learning takes place on a weekly schedule. At the start of each weekly unit, students are provided with learning materials on our online platform, including one hour of pre-recorded video, often supplemented by guided readings and educational resources. These learning materials prepare students for a one-hour live webinar with an expert tutor at the end of each weekly unit which they attend in small groups. Webinars are held on Microsoft Teams, and provide the opportunity for students to respond to discussion prompts and ask questions. The blend of weekly learning materials that can be worked through flexibly, together with a live meeting with a tutor and their peers, maximise learning and engagement through interaction in a friendly, supportive environment.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to have gained an overview of the development of folklore studies, its theory and history, particularly in Britain, through acquaintance with key works in the literature; appreciate the application of this history to contemporary folklore studies; have gained knowledge of a specific theory, scholar or approach.

Assessment methods

You will be set independent formative and summative work for this course. Formative work will be submitted for informal assessment and feedback from your tutor, but has no impact on your final grade. The summative work will be formally assessed as pass or fail.

Application

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses.

 

Level and demands

The Department's short online courses are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level. FHEQ level 4 courses require approximately 10 hours study per week, therefore a total of about 100 study hours.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information visit our English language requirements webpage. 

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support