The many dimensions of a Kuni Folktale

Alan Jones

doi:10.5771/0257-9774-2019-2-417

The many dimensions of a Kuni Folktale

Alan Jones^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

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Abstract

Engaging with a superficially simple folktale from the Kuni of Papua New Guinea, I identify a number of far-flung and quasi-universal themes as well as some widely distributed Melanesian ones. I suggest the main function of the etiological folktale is to obviate aspects of everyday existence, then to restore and reaffirm them. I attribute the grip of etiological tales, more generally, to a human drive for explanation. An added attraction for the Kuni is the sense of solidarity gained in public semi-ritualised retellings. Finally, I analyse some of the 'inside' meanings contained in this tale of Kolukolu and the Moon.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	417-436
Number of pages	20
Journal	Anthropos
Volume	114
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5771/0257-9774-2019-2-417
Publication status	Published - 2019

Bibliographical note

Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher. The following article appeared in Jones, A. (2019). The Many Dimensions of a Kuni Folktale. Anthropos, 114(2), 417-436 and may be found at https://doi.org/10.5771/0257-9774-2019-2-417.

Keywords

etiology
folktales
Kuni
obviation
Papua New Guinea

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10.5771/0257-9774-2019-2-417

Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 4.25 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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title = "The many dimensions of a Kuni Folktale",

abstract = "Engaging with a superficially simple folktale from the Kuni of Papua New Guinea, I identify a number of far-flung and quasi-universal themes as well as some widely distributed Melanesian ones. I suggest the main function of the etiological folktale is to obviate aspects of everyday existence, then to restore and reaffirm them. I attribute the grip of etiological tales, more generally, to a human drive for explanation. An added attraction for the Kuni is the sense of solidarity gained in public semi-ritualised retellings. Finally, I analyse some of the 'inside' meanings contained in this tale of Kolukolu and the Moon.",

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note = "Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher. The following article appeared in Jones, A. (2019). The Many Dimensions of a Kuni Folktale. Anthropos, 114(2), 417-436 and may be found at https://doi.org/10.5771/0257-9774-2019-2-417.",

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AB - Engaging with a superficially simple folktale from the Kuni of Papua New Guinea, I identify a number of far-flung and quasi-universal themes as well as some widely distributed Melanesian ones. I suggest the main function of the etiological folktale is to obviate aspects of everyday existence, then to restore and reaffirm them. I attribute the grip of etiological tales, more generally, to a human drive for explanation. An added attraction for the Kuni is the sense of solidarity gained in public semi-ritualised retellings. Finally, I analyse some of the 'inside' meanings contained in this tale of Kolukolu and the Moon.

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KW - folktales

KW - Kuni

KW - obviation

KW - Papua New Guinea

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DO - 10.5771/0257-9774-2019-2-417

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85086273597

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VL - 114

SP - 417

EP - 436

JO - Anthropos

JF - Anthropos

IS - 2

ER -

The many dimensions of a Kuni Folktale

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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