Little Sir Hugh: an analysis

"Sir Hugh, or, the Jew's daughter" is an anti-semitic English ballad about the ritual murder of a Christian boy by Jews. The ballad of 'Little Sir Hugh' has a life of its own, independent of any historical events which may have given rise to it. It is very widely known throughout the English speaking world because of its early appearance in prominent folksong collections.This essay attempts an analysis of the symbols and legend of the ballad