Introduction
Folklore includes the traditions, stories, songs, and beliefs of a community passed down from one generation to the next, often orally. These traditions are classified into broad genres based on their form and function. In recent times, scholars have used various literary theories to study and interpret these folk texts in deeper ways. This answer explains the broad genres of folklore and also discusses key literary theories used to understand folk literature.
Broad Genres in Folklore
Folklore is usually categorized into the following main genres:
1. Verbal Folklore
- Includes all forms of spoken and sung content.
- Examples: folktales, legends, proverbs, riddles, folk songs, epics, chants.
- Example: Panchatantra stories, Rajasthani ballads, Santhali songs.
2. Material Folklore
- Refers to physical items made or used by a folk group.
- Examples: tribal jewelry, folk costumes, handicrafts, utensils, housing styles.
- Example: Warli paintings, Naga shawls.
3. Customary Folklore
- Deals with rituals, festivals, dances, and ceremonies.
- Examples: Holi, harvest rituals, snake-worship customs, wedding songs and dances.
- Example: Jatra performances in Bengal.
4. Folk Beliefs
- Superstitions, omens, healing practices, and beliefs in spirits or deities.
- Example: Belief in evil eye, black magic, or healing by herbs.
5. Performance Folklore
- Includes dramas, puppet shows, storytelling sessions, and public recitations.
- Examples: Bhavai (Gujarat), Yakshagana (Karnataka), Baul singing (Bengal).
Literary Theories Applied to Folk Literature
Folklore, although traditionally seen as ‘non-literary’, can be studied using many modern literary approaches. These theories help us uncover hidden meanings, social dynamics, and symbolic structures in folk texts.
1. Structuralism
- Focuses on the structure of the story—plot, characters, and motifs.
- Introduced by Vladimir Propp, who studied Russian folktales and identified common functions in stories.
- Example: Most folktales have a hero, a villain, a helper, and a reward.
2. Feminist Theory
- Explores gender roles and the portrayal of women in folk literature.
- Reveals how patriarchal values are passed through stories and songs.
- Example: In many tales, women are shown as either obedient wives or evil stepmothers.
3. Psychoanalytic Theory
- Based on the work of Freud and Jung.
- Looks at dreams, fears, desires, and the unconscious mind in stories.
- Example: The fear of the dark forest or wicked stepmother may reflect deeper childhood fears.
4. Postcolonial Theory
- Studies how colonialism affected folk traditions.
- Explores resistance, identity, and cultural survival in oral literature.
- Example: Tribal myths that resist the idea of being ‘uncivilized.’
5. Performance Theory
- Views folklore as a live act, not just a text.
- Focuses on audience, setting, gestures, and interaction during a performance.
- Example: A Baul singer’s body language and facial expressions add layers of meaning to the song.
6. Marxist Theory
- Focuses on class struggle, power, and economic injustice in folk texts.
- Reveals how common people express their resistance and hope through folklore.
- Example: Songs of landless laborers who sing about poverty and injustice.
Conclusion
Folk literature, though rooted in oral traditions, can be studied just like written literature using modern theories. Understanding its genres and applying the right theoretical lens allows us to appreciate its depth, social role, and emotional power. It shows how even the simplest tale can hold complex meaning when seen through the right perspective.