For this assignment, I had to analyze the “Legend of King Cormac and King Conn” using the theories of Propp and Levi-Strauss. Propp examines the roles of personages and the sequence of their actions. Levi-Strauss studies the meaning of folk narratives on four layers: geographic, sociological, economic, and cosmological. Thus, the two theories form two models of interpretation, which complement each other. I reproduced the scholars’ models to create my essay’s structure. I used Levi-Strauss’s four layers for my outline: my essay examines the role of nature in each of them. Within each layer, I gave evidence that natural elements (the wolf, the otter) fulfill the functions of characters as defined by Propp. In the process, I came to the idea of a possible flaw in the two systems: the scholars assume that only humans can be characters of a narrative and do not recognize the role of nature. Therefore, I offer my own interpretation of the symbolism of the legend’s final scene where nature drives the action. If I were to revise my paper, I would compare this legend to other similar folk narratives from different cultures in order to see whether my interpretations have, or do not have, a universal aspect as those of Propp and Levi-Strauss.
MILITZA ZIKATANOVA came to Boston University from Sofia, Bulgaria in September 2008. She attended an American high-school back home, and she knew that America is the best place to study business. She chose Boston because she found the European feel of the city irresistible. Sailing on the Charles, going to a Red Sox game, and ice-skating on the Frog Pond have been some of the unforgettable moments during her freshman year. More recently, she completed her summer semester in Madrid, where she fell in love with the Spanish sights and lifestyle. Now, she’s looking forward to a relaxing August at the Bulgarian Black Sea resorts with her SMG Accounting homework. This essay was written for Anthony Buccitelli’s WR150: Folk Narratives in Northern Europe.