"He stuns yer arse": Jack tales in contemporary Newfoundland and Labrador

Abstract

This thesis interrogates and describes the purpose of Jack tales in Newfoundland, Jack’s identity, and why understanding and interpreting differing, contemporary views of the character is meaningful when the theoretical framework of Functionalism is applied. This research focusses on the three central themes of home, genre, and gender and discusses the relevance of Jack in contemporary Newfoundland traditions, ideologies, and narratives following interviews with community members, oral narratives, and published texts. Ultimately, this research concludes that Jack is a dynamic character who is capable of influencing the way people reconstruct, de-construct, and maintain both personal and provincial identity.