THE STORY OF THE LAST ENCOUNTER OF BRITAIN WITH FRANCE

This study is about a story which narrates an important event for British culture. Literary theory postulates that reading any story has several layers of interpretation. Reading this story is by no means an exception. Depending on the approach one can identify various elements which relate to legends, myths and folktales. This article presents a story of an episode which has an almost legendary place in British culture. The narrative speaks of a French interaction with the British. This took place in a place in Wales called Fishguard in 1797. Its legendary feature is given by the unexpected turn of events. In other words, an otherwise serious event is quasi-comical in nature. This story also contains a mythical element. It is said to have been an action of the local women. The local women are said to have dressed in their traditional attire. This display is said to have scared the French into submission. The entire story is being told by the locals as part of their inherited tradition. They have identified with the story to such an extent that they have even created a material culture around it and have put it on display.