Field Assignment 2: Legend and Belief

Assignment 2: Comparative analysis of a legend.

1. Document a variant of a legend similar to the legends we encountered in class (urban legends, ghosts, witches, faires/other supernatural creatures, historical heroes).

The assignment works best if you report your conversation with another person.

(Optional expansion for an outstanding grade: record and transcribe an interview that you quote, word for word, in the annotation, Part #2).

You may also write the story down from memory, or record yourself retelling it to a camera or audio recorded – but remember, you are studying somebody else’s beliefs about a legend they told, not you and your own beliefs.

Before annotating, write a short summary of the text, and how you documented it.

2. Annotate this variant (125-250 words):

Text : Point out significant motif numbers from the Motif-Index of Folk Literature

· ; note how a motif is adapted to include people, places and things in the performer’s context.

Variants: Compare your text to variants encountered in class reading assignments, or in other chapters of our main “archive,” the e-book, Scandinavian Folk Belief and Legend

Online variants can also be useful, but remember that you do not know anything about the actual beliefs and worldviews of anonymous online legend-tellers.

· Texture : Note traditional patterns; comment on performance style.

· Context : connect the text to its tradition (the storytelling that happened before or after your text), its performer & performer’s repertoire, and audience & their beliefs .

· You may include comparative notes, engaging examples from Module Three.

Privacy:

Only two people will see your work: Your teacher, and one student peer-reviewer. Your privacy and creative work is protected:

It is illegal for anybody to download or share your work outside of this class, without your written permission.