A Divergent Ending: A Comparative Study of Fairy Tales in European and Japanese Folklore
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24197/cel.16.2025.362-387Keywords:
morphology of the folktale, japanese literature, fairy tale, comparative literature, animal wifeAbstract
The present article explores the differences between European and Japanese fairy tales through the animal wife motif. Using Propp's theory as a starting point, it is demonstrated that while this model fits the European tale, it shows certain limitations in the Japanese context due to cultural and aesthetic sensitivities unique to Japanese taste. Through a comparative approach, the article proposes a new function to adapt Propp's framework to the Japanese popular narrative structure, characterized by melancholic and open endings. Finally, this research opens the door to transcultural comparative studies and extends the applicability of the theoretical model.
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