Applying literary theory to folktales: A structural, psychoanalytic, and feminist approach to meaning-making in Oral Narratives

Applying literary theory to folktales: A structural, psychoanalytic, and feminist approach to meaning-making in Oral Narratives

Nontokozo Gladys Mdhluli & Masila Joshua Masipa

Issue: Vol. 7 No.3 2026 Article 18 pp. 890 – 902
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267318| Published online 29th April 2026

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ABSTRACT

This study explores the use of feminist, structuralist, and psychoanalytic literary theories in folktale interpretation. The study examines the structural patterns, psychological aspects, and gendered representations contained in a few chosen folktales from various cultural contexts, drawing on the seminal works of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Vladimir Propp, Claude Lévi-Strauss, and feminist literary scholars. Using a qualitative research approach, it analyzes gender dynamics, archetypal motifs, and story structures in oral traditions through textual and comparative literary analysis. The results show that folktales frequently represent unconscious desires and conflicts linked to Jungian archetypes while also adhering to recurring structural patterns in line with Propp’s morphology. Through depictions of female agency and resistance, feminist analysis emphasizes both the subversion of gender expectations and the reinforcement of patriarchal standards. By showing how folktales function as cultural objects that reflect social ideals, worries, and aspirations, the debate highlights the intersections of these theoretical stances. The study suggests that in order to reinterpret classic stories within contemporary social and cultural contexts, multidisciplinary approaches should be used going forward, especially when incorporating modern feminist and psychoanalytic perspectives. This study advances scholarship by bridging the gap between literary theory and folklore studies and highlighting the importance of theoretical frameworks in illuminating the folktales’ underlying cultural, psychological, and ideological aspects. In the end, it emphasizes how oral histories serve as both windows into social structures and forums for criticism, change, and resistance.

Keywords: Folklore, Symbolism, Patriarchy, Narrative Theory, Custom

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Ms. Nontokozo Gladys Mdhluli started her teaching career at Siphumelele Secondary School in 2013, where she found her love for language development and teaching. She was hired as a Siswati lecturer at the University of Venda on June 1, 2022. She has further contributed to scholarly discussions in her field by attending and presenting papers at a number of academic conferences. Ms. Mdhluli has written a great deal about literature and how feminist theories may be used to reinterpret traditions. Her writing has been featured in respectable journals and book chapters both domestically and abroad. She is working on her doctorate and has been actively supporting linguistic and cultural development as a board member of the National Language Body (NLB) since 2024. Her important contributions to scholarly writing, language development, and Siswati cultural studies ensure the preservation and ongoing development of Siswati’s intellectual and cultural heritage.

Dr. Masila Joshua Masipa teaches in the University of Venda’s Department of Arts and Social Sciences. He has worked in higher education for many years, with a focus on solid waste management, ethics, sociolinguistics, and development studies. Masipa is a member of the Senate Council and has overseen postgraduate students. Dr. Masila Joshua Masipa is a committed researcher and development professional with a focus on grassroots development, social inclusion, and rural mobilization in Africa. He specializes in empowering marginalized people through sustainable development initiatives and participatory governance, and he has a solid foundation in policy research and community involvement.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Mdhluli, Nontokozo Gladys, and Masila Joshua Masipa. “Applying literary theory to Folktales: A structural, Psychoanalytic, and Feminist approach to meaning-making in Oral Narratives.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.3 (2026): 890 – 902. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267318