Myths and folklore can hold the answers to life's biggest questions. For the Hungarians, those big questions are cultural and political, and affect the entire nation. This thesis examines the myth of the Miracle Stag, a Hungarian foundational myth I remember from my childhood. While the myth remains popular to this day, I focus on three main medieval chronicles which helped introduce the myth into Hungarian national consciousness. In doing so, I examine how the myth of the Miracle Stag responds to pressing questions of Hungarian national identity, particularly questions about their origins. In view of Hungary's linguistic and political isolation, the myth of the Miracle Stag legitimizes Hungary's right to existence, sometimes by fabricating a lineage between the Hungarians and the Huns.
"},{"label":"Degree","value":["Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors"]},{"label":"Author-supplied Keywords","value":["Hungary","Folklore","Mythology"]},{"label":"Administrative Note","value":"Drupal Node ID: 23798