<새끼 서 발> 설화의 놀이적 성격

Abstract

The folktale Six-yard [seo-bal] Straw Rope is unique. Its formal characteristic of cumulative repetition is prominent, and the story is well-developed, making it seem sufficiently open to interpretation. However, discussing the meaning is not as easy as anticipated. This is because the coherence of characters and the causality of events, often emphasized when understanding works centered on content, is lacking, and the structure of the ending is dispersed. This study addresses these issues by focusing on the formal characteristics of the work; it seeks to reinterpret these formal features from a playful perspective.
 The Six-yard Straw Rope follows a format similar to phrase-tail linking folk songs. The gradual exchange process from the six-yard straw rope to the maiden unfolds as a weaving play characterized by phrase-tail linking. The key in narrativizing lies in ‘creating a situation,’ which entails crafting a specific and appropriate situation where two objects can be exchanged. Ultimately, Six-yard Straw Rope is created by aptly weaving various situations where low- and high-value items can be exchanged into a narrative. This study names it the ‘Situation-Weaving Play.’ The lack of consistency in character portrayal and causality in event development and the dispersed structure of the resolution all stem from the playful nature of the work.
 The playful characteristic of the Six-yard Straw Rope is deeply related to the situational thinking encouraged in oral culture. Utilizing common objects found in everyday spaces to create appropriate situations in folktales is the ultimate play that enhances situational thinking in oral culture. Folktales with a situational play abound beyond Six-yard Straw Rope, with Mole’s Wedding being a prime example. The charm of situational play, based on situational thinking, lies in the fact that humble objects like a six-yard straw rope can become a maiden or silk when well combined with situations, and even a humble mole can become the finest groom in the world under various situations.