A Jungian Analytical Psychological Study of the Folk Tale The Rusty Sword

Folk tales have always been a valuable treasure for understanding the cultural, social, and literary heritage of nations, serving as a mirror that reflects the life and spirit of ancient societies. In addition to providing abundant ethnographic insights for researchers, they also possess significant potential for analysis through literary criticism and theoretical approaches. One of the most suitable frameworks for interpreting folk narratives is psychology, particularly Jungian analytical psychology. In the present study, the Azerbaijani folk tale “The Rusty Sword” was selected—through purposive sampling—with the aim of identifying and analyzing its archetypes and symbolic elements. Using a descriptive–analytical method grounded in Jung’s analytical psychology, the symbolic motifs and archetypes within the tale were examined. The findings reveal that Azerbaijani folk tales embody psychological symbols and patterns corresponding to Jungian archetypes. The Hero, the Wise Old Man, the Terrible Mother, the Shadow, and the Anima are among the archetypal figures reflected in this story. Moreover, the narrative exhibits the symbolic function of the castle, the chest, the rusty sword, the number forty, and the dagger. These elements demonstrate that folk tales hold considerable potential for critical analysis from the perspective of analytical psychology.