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Praying for child in the Folktale of Eliminating the Monster of Underground Nation

Seung-Hwan Hyun 1

1제주대학교

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ABSTRACT

The folktales of "Eliminating the monster of underground nation" are classified into two types ("kidnapping an unmarried woman" type, "kidnapping wife" type). The content of "kidnapping an unmarried woman" type is as follows: An unmarried woman is kidnapped by monster into underground nation. And then, an unmarried man cultivates his ability to rescue the woman. After that, man and woman get rid of the monster in the underground nation together. Finally, they get married. In this story, on the ground world, the man is the main character, and it means, male principle dominates on the ground But in the underground nation, the woman is the main character. That is, female principle dominates in the underground nation. The monster which man and woman have to overcome is the symbolic expression of hardships that will happen after marriage. "Getting rid of the monster together" is considered marriage ceremony expressed orally. Meanwhile, the content of "kidnapping wife" type is as follows: Wife is kidnapped by monster into underground nation. After that, wife and husband get rid of the monster together. In this type, "getting rid of the monster together" can be comprehended not only "marriage ceremony" but also parent's hope for child. When a wife who has got married is infertile, by getting rid of the monster, wife wish to be changed from infertility to fertility. The monster who kidnaps woman to underground is divine presence. But, as the monster kidnapped woman without any consent from parents or husband, it becomes the being which should be elimanated. If a man has the ability to get rid of this monster, he can get married to the woman or can get child from the woman. In this folktale, woman plays an important role when woman and man together kill the monster. It shows that woman also can exercise her ability where she plays a leading role. "Man and woman have his or her own space where he or she can do leading role" can be comprehended as classification of sexual role.

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