The Meaning of Folklore – Alan Dundes – First published 1965
The Meaning of Folklore
Alan Dundes’ The Meaning of Folklore, first published in 1965, presents a structuralist approach to the study of folklore. The work examines folklore not as the remnants of primitive beliefs or the fanciful creations of isolated individuals, but as a system of communication – a kind of “hidden discourse” – reflecting the values, attitudes, and worldview of a culture. Dundes posits that folklore, in its various manifestations (myths, legends, folktales, proverbs, riddles, etc.), is best understood through the analysis of its underlying patterns and binary oppositions.
Historical / Cultural Context
Dundes’ work emerged during a period of significant shifts in folklore studies. Earlier approaches, prevalent in the 19th and early 20th centuries, often focused on the historical origins of folktales (the “historic-geographic method”) or viewed folklore as a reflection of the “folk mind.” Dundes, influenced by structural linguistics and the work of Claude Lévi-Strauss, challenged these perspectives. He argued for a synchronic, rather than diachronic, analysis, prioritizing the internal logic and structure of folklore over its historical development. This marked a move towards a more scientific and analytical methodology within the field.
Who This Book Is For
This book is principally suited for students and scholars in folklore, anthropology, literary studies, and related disciplines. While Dundes’ prose can be dense, the core concepts are accessible to a dedicated general reader with an interest in understanding the underlying structure of narratives and cultural beliefs. The work assumes some familiarity with basic anthropological and linguistic concepts.
Further Reading
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Structural Anthropology (1963): Dundes’ methodology draws heavily from Lévi-Strauss’ structuralist principles.
- Vladimir Propp, Morphology of the Folktale (1928): Propp’s work, which analyzes the underlying structure of Russian folktales, provided a foundational model for structuralist folklore studies.
- Stith Thompson, The Folktale (1946): A comprehensive overview of folktale motifs and their distribution, offering a complementary, though distinct, approach to folklore analysis.
Disclaimer.
Oraclepedia is an independent educational and cultural project. The material presented explores myths, belief systems, symbolic traditions, and aspects of human perception from historical, cultural, and psychological perspectives.
Content is provided for informational and reflective purposes only and does not promote specific beliefs, spiritual practices, or ideological positions. Interpretations presented reflect scholarly, cultural, or symbolic analysis rather than factual claims about the natural world.