Module Title:             LIT 103 Folk Literature

Credit Value:                         12

Module Tutor:           Dr.Umesh Chandra Sharma

General Objectives

In this module, students will become acquainted with myths, legends and folk tales from England, India and Bhutan, Tibet, old and new.  Myths will include creation stories, sagas and epics; legends, family stories and sacred stories; and folk tales, fables, animal stories, tall tales, pour quoi tales, magic tales and comic stories.  The course will also examine the meaning, importance and morality of proverbs.  Students will study how belief in myths, legends, folk tales and proverbs shapes communal behaviour and forms culture and tradition.  They will also look at how folk literature influences and informs English literature in general.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to-

·         read and analyze a range of folk stories from a variety of sources drawn, comparisons between them and identify common themes;

·         recognize form and characteristic features of folk tales, tall tales, ballads, legends etc;

·         come to appreciate the impact of folk literature on culture, tradition, beliefs and social mores;

·         comment on how myths, legends and folk tales relate to the literature;

·         imply or relate the social truth and wisdom from folk literature to the present day context;

·         grasp the significance of oral folklore tradition;

·          develop a grasp of relevant issues in literary theory and folklore studies.

Teaching and Learning Approach

Lecture:           3hrs/wk

Tutorials:         1hr/wk (including discussions& presentations)

Assessment

1^st Assignment:           (800 - 1000 words)                  10%

2^nd Assignment:           (1500 - 2000 words)                20%

Oral Presentation:                                                       20%

Examination:                                                               50%

Total:                                                                           100 marks

Subject Matter:

1.      Introduction: What is folk literature; its nature and scope.

2.      Oral Traditions: England, India and Bhutan.

3.      Folk Literature and Genres: Myths,  creation stories, sagas,  epics; legends, family stories and sacred stories; and folk tales, fables, animal stories, tall tales, pour quoi tales, magic tales and comic stories

4.      Dominant features: Element of marvelous, wonder and humor etc.

5.      Introduction to Folk tales of Bhutan: The Himalayan oral traditions in Bhutan, reflection of indigenous culture in folk tales; local gods and deities. Fables, animal stories communicating morals.

6.      Folk oral tradition; introduction to a ballad form: The ballad of Pemi Tshewang Tashi : A wind borne feather

7.      Folktales from Tibet.

8.      Introduction to Ramanujan, A.K.  Folk Tales from India: Indian oral traditions, notion of oral epic, the Jatakas, the Panchatantra, the Aryan and the Dravidian traditions.

9.      Matarasso’s  The Quest of the Holy Grail  : Introduction,  The Asinan and German traditionArthurian legend and Christian symbolism,  ancient Celtic myth as a  spiritual fable.

The quest of the knights of Camelot , Bors,  Gawain, Lancelot and Galahad – elements of  danger , temptation tragic grandeur and an aura of mysticism. An allegory of man's perilous search for divine grace.

1.      Alfred Tennyson’s The Coming of Arthur: Introduction to The Idylls of the King. The notion of an ideal king, the romance of chivalry and the reflection of Victorian pessimism.

Module developed by: Dr.Umesh Chandra Sharma