1111.00 - Folk literature

1111.00

Folk literature

16

To give the students a basic knowledge of Faroese ballads, fairy tales and legends, and to give a general overview of the genres, characteristics, forms and contents.

Oral tradition consists of poetry and narrative styles, which were created and have lived in unwritten communication between people. The oral narrative genres in verse includes ballads, songs, satiric ballads and other dance poems in addition to minor types of poetry such as rhymes, etc. Narrative genres in prose appear above all in legends and fairytales. Short forms are riddles, proverbs, etc. The main subjects are ballads, legends and fairytales. In addition instruction is given in research history and theory, and the oral tradition of neighbouring countries will be touched upon. The teaching will give a general overview of the genres, characteristics, forms and contents, and there will be discussion of important research questions, which are linked to the various genres. Various schools of research of poetry in the oral tradition will be gone through and assessments made of them. Closer insights will be given to some questions. Individual ballads, legends or fairytales and/or groups of these will be more thoroughly dealt with. Emphasis will be placed on the development of tradition and other aspects of folkloristic evaluations such as use and function compared to other approaches for example aesthetic and philological. The writing down of oral poetry will be discussed with emphasis on the writing down of the Faroese ballads. At the examination the student is required to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of Faroese ballads, Faroese legends and Faroese fairytales, demonstrate general knowledge of poetry in the oral tradition in neighbouring countries, explain the development of tradition and the conditions for life and creation that characterize poetry in the oral tradition in form and content, and describe the various perceptions and views within research with regard to the scholarly and cultural trends in the period. For the exam the student must submit: Ballads: Three heroic ballads and six other ballads, where all other genres of ballads are included. Legends: About 50 pages in published editions. Fairytales: About 50 pages in published editions. Theory: The equivalent of 4 scholarly works must be submitted, of these a suitable selection of texts on each folklore genre in consultation with the tutor and in accordance with the tuition. The submitted material should cover: questions of interpretation, questions of age and origin and methodic/critical theory, including collection, documentation and development of tradition.

2 lessons a week over 4 terms or the equivalent.

The student can choose to 1: take an oral exam with half an hour preparation time. The student can have the submitted papers and notes with him/her, when preparing. 2: write a paper on a subject chosen by the candidate himself/herself.

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