This is a PPT I designed for my friend Rini Tochhawng who is currently doing her Thesis on this same topic. Here's me wishing her all the best, and hope this well researched thesis will earn her a well deserved doctorate degree.

1. TELL ME YOUR STORY: A STUDY OF
THE ORAL FOLK TALES IN MIZO
LALRINMAWII TOCHHAWNG
Dept. of English
School of Humanities, IGNOU

2. 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

3. Chapter 2: Academic Approaches to Folktales and the Mizo Context
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

4. Chapter 2: Academic Approaches to Folktales and the Mizo Context
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

5. Chapter 2: Academic Approaches to Folktales and the Mizo Context
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

6. Chapter 2: Academic Approaches to Folktales and the Mizo Context
•The first appearance of oral tales in writing in T.H.Lewin’s
Hill Proverbs of the Inhabitants of the Chittagong Hill Tracts1873
•The first collection of tales by a native writer: Serkawn
Graded Reader by Nuchhungi1938
•P.S. Dahrawka : Mizo Thawnthu1964
•C.Vanlallawma: Hmanlai Hian Mawm1991
•Laltluangliana Khiangte: Folktales of Mizoram1997
•Lalhmachhuana Zofa : Mizo Thawnthu in 5 Vols.2006 - 2011
•R.L.Thanmawia : Mizo Hnahthlak Thawnthu in 3 Vols.2009 - 2012

7. Chapter 2: Academic Approaches to Folktales and the Mizo Context
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

8. “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
Stories
Romantic
Tales
Cumulative
Tales
Legendary
Tales

9. Chapter 3: Classifying Mizo Folktales
Animal Tales
•Non-mythological
•Personalised
•Anthropomorphosis
•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

10. Chapter 3: Classifying Mizo Folktales
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, Mualz
avata

11. Chapter 3: Classifying Mizo Folktales
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.”

12. 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

13. Thlanrawkpa
Khuangchawi:
Legendary Tale
Kungawrhi:
Wonder Tale
Chawngvungi leh
Sawngkhara:
Romantic Tale
Satel leh Zawng:
Animal Tale
Chapter 4: Content Analysis of Select Mizo Folktales Based on Tale-Type and
Motif Indices

14. Kawrdumbela:
Wonder Tale
Samdala:
Noodlehead Story
Chhurbura:
Noodlehead Story
Thailungi: Realistic
Tale
Chapter 4: Content Analysis of Select Mizo Folktales Based on Tale-Type and
Motif Indices

15. 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

16. Values&Functions
• Validate
Culture
• Group
Cohesion
• Education
• Entertainment
IdentityFormation
• 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

17. 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

18. THANK YOU