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TELL ME YOUR STORY: A STUDY OF THE ORAL FOLK TALES IN MIZO

LALRINMAWII TOCHHAWNGDept. of English

School of Humanities, IGNOU

Chapter 2: Academic Approaches to Folktales and the Mizo Context

Grimm Brothers: Credited with making folk tales worthy of academic and literary attention.

Mythological School: Max Muller traced stories to broken down myths created due to semantic changes in language “Malady of language”.

Diffusionistic School: Theodor Benfey and his belief migration of tales from India.

Different School of Thoughts


Historic- Geographic School: Idea of the “Ur” form and existence of variants spread through wave diffusion. Finnish School.

Anthropological School: Folklore was built up, not broken down from “primitive” cultures

Different School of Thoughts


Psychological Approach: Study folk lore behaviouristically and interpret symbolically in terms of sexual image

Structural Approach: Looks for generalised patterns and interpret to reveal a shared focus.

Sociohistorical Approach: Attempt to connect tales to value systems and cultures of communities

Different Approaches


Oral Formulaic Theory: Concept of formula or stock mnemonic devices

Feminist Theory: Establishing gender as a fundamental category for analysis of experiences and expressions

Performance Theory: Shift to the teller and his social group, a reflection of culture and world view

Different Theories


•The first appearance of oral tales in writing in T.H.Lewin’s Hill Proverbs of the Inhabitants of the Chittagong Hill Tracts

1873•The

first collection of tales by a native writer: Serkawn Graded Reader by Nuchhungi

1938•P.S.

Dahrawka : Mizo Thawnthu

1964

•C.Vanlallawma: Hmanlai Hian Mawm

1991

•Laltluangliana Khiangte: Folktales of Mizoram

1997

•Lalhmachhuana Zofa : Mizo Thawnthu in 5 Vols.

2006 - 2011

•R.L.Thanmawia : Mizo Hnahthlak Thawnthu in 3 Vols.

2009 - 2012


Mizo Thawnthu Zirzauna by Dr. Lalruanga published in 2000.• Classification into six categories• Historical perspective on the development of

interest in folktales and folktale study in Mizoram: pre and post Independence.

Issues:• Questions of authenticity• Re-acquainting younger generations with

traditions• Preservation of dying oral narratives • Integration of ethnically allied groups

“One can therefore, only make an attempt to class similar tales together keeping in mind that the true definition of any folktale depends on its function in a society and the way the audience and the narrator think of it at the time of performance-their relevance to contemporary society.”

Chapter 3: Classifying Mizo Folktales

Type of Folktales

Animal Tales

Tales of Wonder

Realistic Tales

Noodle head StoriesRomantic Tales

Cumulative Tales

Legendary Tales


Animal Tales• Non-

mythological• Personalised• Anthropomorpho

sis• Trickster• Fables• Common animals

include monkeys, tortoise, bear, snake and tiger

• Competition/trial; animal-human relations; etiological

Tales of Wonder

• Tales that contain supernatural, magical or wonder elements.

• Triumph of the underdog hero, Magical Assistance and Magical Objects, Transformation

Realistic Tales• Novelle’ in

Aarne-Thompson’s Types of the Folktale, no explicitly magical or supernatural element, the human wit and intelligence wins the day for the hero or the heroine.

• Clever Peasant girl tale

• Faithful Wife tale• Orphans tale etc


Romantic Tales

• Largest group of tales

• Are named after the protagonists

• Conflict centers around social differences, in-law relations and inter-village or inter-clan hostilities.

Cumulative Tales

• Only one known Mizo Cumulative tale- Chemtatrawta

• Is named after the human protagonist

• Formula, logical pattern, cyclic repetition

Legendary Tales

• Etiomological- how the earth was formed; how man and animals got separated

• Human Legends- Hrangkhupa, Mualzavata


Noodlehead Stories

• Dumb character who makes unbelievable mistakes. • provides an uncomplicated means of entertainment. • Is found a kind of twisted logic and they reveal a kind of

silliness that resides in all of In this way, they enable us to laugh at ourselves and the tales are told, not to ridicule, but rather as an objective way of looking at life.

• Chhura/Chhurbura : “According to one view, he was the silliest of all the simpletons. According to the other view, he was the cleverest of all the wise men and all his actions and behaviours by which he was called foolish were in fact all due to his abiding love and affection for his elder brother, Nahaia.”

Chapter 4: Content Analysis of Select Mizo Folktales Based on Tale-Type and Motif Indices

• The texts assigned to similar tale types are bound to have smaller units that are identical, similar or closely related.

• Aim to identify factors that make these tales uniquely Mizo, while acknowledging such similarities with a view to arriving at a holistic understanding of Mizo folktales.

• The detailed analysis of the selected tales would be based on the following:• Tale Types and Story Patterns • Popular Incidents and Motifs • Variations in the Oral Tradition• As Carriers of Tradition

Thlanrawkpa Khuangchawi: Legendary Tale

Kungawrhi: Wonder Tale

Chawngvungi leh Sawngkhara: Romantic Tale

Satel leh Zawng: Animal Tale


Kawrdumbela: Wonder Tale

Samdala: Noodlehead Story

Chhurbura: Noodlehead Story

Thailungi: Realistic Tale


Values or Functions of the Tales in Context

Identity Formation of the

Self and of Society

Relationships between

Problems and Solutions

Characters

Behaviour & Attitude Content

Effect Content & Perceived Outcome

Chapter 5: World View of Mizo Folk Tales

Values & Functions• Validate

Culture• Group

Cohesion• Education• Entertainment

Identity Formation• Ethnic vrs.

Racial Groups• Identification

with Major Characters for Self-Identity Formation

Conflict & Resolution• Character vrs.

Character• Character vrs.

Society• Character vrs.

Self

Chapter 5: World View of Mizo Folk Tales

World of Adults

Community Oriented

Personalised/ Humanised

Animals

Presence of ‘worldly’

beings

Tradition of Heroism

Ethnocentric

Lack of Individualism

World View of Mizo Folk

Tales

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