English mythology

Common card · No. 472253

While England has a rich folklore, the term English mythology is often considered a misnomer, with many authors and historians noting that there is no unifying or popularly understood national mythology specific to the nation. Despite this, many mythological works feature English characters and locations, or are associated with the history of England. These include ancient Celtic mythology, Anglo-Saxon religion, and works found in Breton, Cornish and Welsh mythology, Medieval Welsh literature and the Arthurian legends found in the Matter of Britain. Attempts at inventing or recreating an English mythology have been made, most notably J.R.R. Tolkien's mythopoeia found in works such as Lord of the Rings are often viewed as his attempt at "A mythology for England", where he is said to have developed upon elements he found in other European mythologies to reconstruct what he saw as missing in England.

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