Typology of Folk Tales of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Based on Ulrich Marzolph's Model and an Analysis of Cultural Motifs

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Azam Sabetghadam 1
Hamid Rezaie 2
1 Ph.D. Candidate in Persian Language and Literature, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
10.48311/cfl.2025.86464.0
Abstract
A "tale type" is a general pattern and narrative framework of a story that recurs across different cultures with minor variations. A "motif" is considered the smallest meaningful unit of a tale, encompassing an object, character, action, or situation that recurs in various narratives. Through his analysis of the content of Iranian folktales, Ulrich Marzolph has identified and classified the cultural, social, and religious concepts embedded within these narratives. The aim of this study is to classify 100 folktales from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari based on Marzolph's typology and to identify the recurring and significant motifs in these tales using a descriptive-analytical approach. The results of the study indicate that the folktales of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari follow specific patterns and formats that align well with Marzolph's model, and various motifs from Marzolph's classification are observable in the tales of this region. Furthermore, this research has utilized this framework as a roadmap to explore the hidden layers of the region's culture, examining and analyzing three motifs—magic and sorcery, animals, and nomadism and travel—within the tales of this area.
Keywords
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Folktales
typology
Ulrich Marzolph
classification, motif
Subjects
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