The blind girl, a misplaced folktale

Article Abstract:

Analyzing a folktale's variations provides a permanent contribution to knowledge, and the variants of the folktale of the blind girl provide one example. The story has a number of traits in common with those of other persecuted heroines. The most obvious theme is that of goodness and cruelty, but poverty and wealth are a sub-theme. The various motifs of the tale, such as the selling motif, the fairies' gifts and the buying back of the eyes with the products of these gifts provide the tale's internal balance. The tale is similar to those of other substitued brides and shares some of their motifs. Straparola's 'Pleasant Nights,' published between 1550 and 1553, is the oldest example of the tale.

Literary themes

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Structure, society, and symbolism: toward a holistic interpretation of fairy tales

Article Abstract:

Analyzing a folktale's variants by its structure and the cultures where it dominates provides the most complete information. This is illustrated with an analysis of the tale of The Princess Who Cannot Solve the Riddle, an international tale immortalized in various works. The tale is most popular in the Germanic areas and in Eastern Europe, an area where marriage symbolizes the bride's death. This information helps in understanding the tale's thematic duality. The tale also reflects a fear of female sexuality, and this also exists in areas where the tale is most popular.

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"Dogs rescue master from tree refuge," an African folktale with world-wide analogs

Article Abstract:

Tracing African-American folktales only to Africa is simplistic in the case of tales found in many cultures world-wide. The tale of dogs rescuing their master from a tree is found in Europe, Africa, Arabia, India, and Japan. Scholars doubt the variants of this tale descended from a single original version.

International aspects, Criticism and interpretation, Legends, Folk literature, African, African folklore

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