WISDOM AS MOTIF IN FOLKTALES THE GOOD PEASANT’S SON

Abstract

In this article, the writer discusses wisdom as motif in four
folktales from four different cultures which are as follows: the Good
Peasant’s Son (A Russian folktale), the Crocodile and the Hunter (an
African-Nupe folktale), Breaking the Chain (a Guatemalan folktale),
and Wisdom for Sale (an Indian-Gujerati folktale). The writer then
discusses the wisdom through the actions of the main characters in the
three folktales whilst the words of the main character in one folktale.
Further, the writer uses formulaic theory as the aforesaid folktales
have been spread through the words of mouth from generations to
generations. Yet, the writer has found out the oral stories in written
books. Eventually, the writer draws conclusion that wisdom has
existed in the four mentioned folktales.