Tales That Went, Tales That Came

Abstract

Thus far I have made little distinction between the two sets of tales, those from 1972 and 2008, but have concentrated on the general characteristics of both sets. Let us look at the differences now. First, I will compare the content of the rhena heca in both samples, an exercise which demands identification of tale types, the exercise that lies at the base of all comparison in folklore. This produces overall figures for the overlap between the two samples and for the number of tales that disappeared or newly appeared, thus offering a first window on processes of selective retention, borrowing, and creativity. Then we focus on the main actors of the tales, to see how they move through the genres. The second section explores shifts in the various themes in both samples, arriving at subtle but pervading changes in the Kapsiki stories over two generations. These changes will be illustrated by a few more rhena heca, selected for this purpose among both the old and the new tales.