Folklores and Folktales in History Writing: An Analytical Study

Abstract

A controversial but crucial role in historical studies is played by folklore and folktales, especially in those historical settings where other sources of information are limited, scarce, and often rendered from an external perspective. This paper critically engages folklore, folktales, and historical studies in general in relation to the overarching controversies in historiographical studies and the methodology of historical studies. It begins with an exploration of new conceptual frameworks in historical and historiographical studies and continues with an explanation of folklore and folktales as a cultural phenomenon deposited within a cultural memory in general. This paper argues with an illustrative case and critical justification that, after rigorous validation, both folktales and folklore can further function as source materials in historical construction and can disclose, among other things, the social and power relations of past societies through their belief systems and experiences in general. At the same time, it identifies the methodological problems in writing history using folklore, some of which deal with chronology, symbolism, exaggeration, and reinterpretations. The conclusion reached is that folklore should neither be rejected as fantasy nor be considered uncritically true history; rather, it should be approached as an auxiliary and interpretive source which enhances understanding of history, especially relating to the history of marginal and illiterate groups.