LANGUAGE AND FOLKLORE: DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Course objectives
The course “LANGUAGE AND FOLKLORE: DISCOURSE ANALYSIS” is a survey course which aims at giving an overview of the way language can be analyzed through folklore. Folklore texts are viewed as cultural phenomena and the interpretation of folktales can reveal cultural peculiarities of nations telling them. Some gender perspectives are viewed as stereotypical, for example, the belief that women are week and passive in folktales. The choice of the material under consideration as well as deep analysis of the text prove that female role is undeniably important in folktales and sometimes readers or listeners must be prepared to read hidden messages in traditional narratives. Central concepts, forms and types will be introduced during the course. The focus will be on national peculiarities represented in folktales.
The goal of this course is to give students 1) perspective and 2) the research tools and confidence to seek out deeper information on the traditional folklore text through discourse analysis. It includes a survey of rich comparative folkloric materials found in Armenian, Italian, German, British folklore tradition.
Students will be provided with articles and other materials needed for the course.
Learning outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Compare and contrast various concepts and different interpretations of in “cultural” texts of folktales.
- Interpret cultural identities through folktale texts,
- Evaluate differences in women’s experiences based on culture,
- Identify key elements in shaping roles in folktales,
- Interpret symbols in folktales .
Related subjects: literature, history, archaeology, anthropology, ethnography, creative writing, storytelling, children’s literature, tourism.
syllabus
(each lesson - 1 hour)
Lesson 1: Introduction. Folktale as a genre of folklore. Types of folktales. Cultural perspective on folktales. Genre peculiarities and traditions. Oral narratives.
(PPT, quiz, discussion, Q&A)
Lesson 2: Folktales around the world. The nature of collectivism in folktales. Cultural identities in folktales. Tradition and improvisation in folktales.
(PPT, Group work, Q&A)
Lesson 3: Characters of folktales. Male and female characters. Proper names in Folktales.
(PPT, discussion, Q&A)
Lesson 4: Who are storytellers, collectors and editor of folktales. The influence of the gender of the storyteller/collector/editor/ on the text.
(PPT, discussion, Q&A)
Lesson 5: Practical work. Characters of folktales. Gender distribution among characters. Italian, Armenian, German, British folktales.
(Group work, Q&A)
Lesson 6: The most popular motifs of folktales. Female characters in folktales: queens, mothers and princesses. Female archetypes (based on Armenian, Italian, German and Oriental folktales)
(PPT, group work,quiz)
Lesson 7: Folktale interpretations from the point of view of feministic theories.
(PPT, discussion, Q&A)
Lesson 8: Orphan children in folktales. Why are children deprived of mothers in folktales.
(PPT, discussion, quiz)
Lesson 9: Dealing with stereotypes in Folktales.
(video watching, discussion)
Lesson 10: Symbolism of folktales. Symbols, metaphors, hidden messages in female texts folktales.
(PPT, discussion, Q&A)
Lesson 11: Practical work on symbolism.
(Group work assignment, Q&A)
Lesson 12: Witchcraft and magic. Interpretation of metamormosis in folktales. Gender roles in them.
(PPT, video watching, discussion)
Lesson 13: Who should read folktales today? Rewriting traditional texts.
(Group work assignment, Q&A)
Lesson 14: Case study. Analyzing folktales
(Group work assignment)
Lesson 15: Revision: Students’ Presentations.
Assessment
The final grade will be comprised upon the following:
Read and watch 20%
Discussion 20%
Group work 20%
Quizzes 20%
Final presentation 20%
(15 hours)
