The significance of personification in folktales: a study of selected folktales tales of the Ateso

Abstract

This research study provides the significance of personification in the analysis of Ateso folktales and particularly explores the different stories that one can look at and potentially arrive at the meaning considering several aspects including the characters, setting and broader ideas embedded in these stories categorically finding out how personification is reflected in these stories and how one can use the knowledge of this literary device to come up with the intended meaning. The project also explores how these folktales have evolved from the way they were presented (narrated) to their translation and meaning since many years have passed and these stories have gone through several minds and so originality is not one hundred percent guaranteed. One may have to delve into different aspects as presented in this study report to have a distinctive and concrete understanding of these folktales. The study is aimed at viewing the separate elements of the folktales to conclusively come up with what these stories are representing to the speaker and the listener and finally the one who will use this study report. To collect and analyse these folktales, one has to have the collection tools and methods including interviews. The ones used in the research study are laptop to compile the work. In this research study, one will realise the gap that is being bridged in regards to how these folktales are presented when looking at personification particularly when analysing Ateso folktales. There are many analyses on Ateso folktales yet they have ignored the significance of this literary element not accepting the fact that much as there are several literary techniques in these stories, personification overshadows them all in regards to the folktales with characters that are not human beings but behave as if they are real human beings.