Web of Life: Folklore and Midrash in Rabbinic Literature (Contraversions: Jews and Other Differences)

J E W

S..

A N D

W E B

OF

O

T

AND

RABBINIC

MIDRASH

LITERATURE

mm m

GALIT

HASAN-ROKEM

TRANSLATED

F E R E N C E S

L I F E

F O L K L O R E IN

itt-nfn

BY BATYA

STEIN

Copyrighted Material

WEB OF LIFE

No," I~ ; .

I'w',",,,,', . 1, II.brfo, 01. m, . ! """ ; '~

,o.' , d wO,,, ' ,,,J.

,. " .. D" " " ...,,",,' """,,' ,N'

CONTR",,,r:RSIONS

OAN , n . O Y A " ' N, c

~'NA

UON . n D . A NO

N' O ~ ' . . OOM.N • • "," " " "

n" , .. k of "n, S, ;" " of I, d. ;, ..

;, ,. ! ;" I,d . ;,,". "" "" L

J"", , ,, .. I.

,no. , 0. ."D U ,

,. . . ." 'j

.i", ,,,",,.,,",",,

," '''' ,i••,""i,' ''" ,,"

•

EB OP' L.IF

4' -_ _ __ .. O LKLQR .. ... ,.O "'DR AS H IN R ... . . .

GA '- IT H ... . ... H · R O K C ...

Tnnol.,oW by Botya S.. in

',.'c: LI T I
n.;, ",Ool ,Q;o"", of",.. .,

'* _ ... MJ,.,. ............ W"."",, _ ...,

~ io - . . . io ..... .. . .,...~Io.-,.....

., Am Oo
u• •

IK-Ufnot_

,,+... " Ud.. 1<1 A,;,_ .....

....... ~c..Lo . [Urrut ...,.. ... 'ngU.[ """ of iii< , woo.,

t".n-.J ~

............. ;, .-.,~ ",,,,,,,,,, I"'"' ",...,.~., •

br &
" .. _ [c-,.,..,.,..)

,.-doO<> ~.......~ '"''''''''' . ... ...... " "" o-~.}ll6-. lolL 1"1"") - ''"" o-~.",p 11"1"" ' oIL 1"1"") , . M",,,.h , ........ ;""P'="" de. , ............

,H;""""',..

"-""".,_---.:.;00"",

,~ .

'- rotl<.

I! . Coo~"""""{sw.fooI,c.I;/. 1

.w,,,.W,, .,;'" "'"'" "o."~,,

00--«'"<'

"''II;,w f";""'II ""'" "" figu« brioo.- ;oJ;a"')<" ofl" .. f"""~ ~

~

~

~

~

~

''' 11'' ' by s...Jy """'"'"

~

_

0'

00

1i'P"« by " ' _ Tyr<"","". ''''. .... / ..., M......

",;polly

In """'My of "-", ;'a;, "'y fi",bo,n (l91} - l99 0 )

CONTENTS

PREfACE

xi

I

THE STUDY OF fOl.K NARRATIV ES IN RABBINIC l1Tf.RATURE I

2

THE LITERARY CONTf.XT OF fOLK NARRATIVES I N T HE AGGADIC MIDRASH : INTERPRETING NARRATIVE STRUCTURE

16

3

THE GENRE CONTEXT OF FOLK NARRATIVES I N THE AGGADIC MIDRASH : RIDDLES ABOUT THE WISE PEOPLF. Of JERUSALEM J9

4

THE CO~IPARATIVE CONTEXT OF FOLK NARRATIVES I N THE AGGAD!C MIDRASH : FOLK NARRAT IVE AS IN T ERCULTURAl DISCOURSE

67

II THE fOLKlOR I STIC CONU:XT OF FOI.K NARRATIV ES IN THE AGGADIC MIDRASH : TAl.ES OF DREAM IN T ERPRETAT ION 88 II THE SOCIAL CONTEXT O f FOLK NARRATIVES IN THE AGGADIC MIDRASH : TIlE FEM I NINE POWER O f I.AMENTS, TAlf.S, AND LOVE

108

..

7

THE RELIGIOUS CONTEXT Ot' t'OLK NARRATIVES I N THE AGGADIC MIDRASH : THE RHETORIC OF INTIMACY AS A RHETORIC OF Tilt: SACRED 130

8

THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF FOLK NARR ,U IVES IN THE AGGADIC MIDRASH : THRH TALES ON M>:SSIANIS~ 1 EPILOGU E: RABBI JOSHUA' S ODYSSEY

Non .

NJ

O I O LlOGOA'H. G.NORAL IND..

151 175

ISDn TO TH. o r . " AN D H

•

191

C ONTU TO

. . . NIC LI"RAW"

185

146

PR~FAC~

THI< .OO K "OAL> ~·ith .. bbinic li«fatu"'-th, Ll fg'" toxtual body in Hebrew lit",tuf< ... ,..,11 ., th, ",,,,t i n~uen"al in !<wish UI, .inc< il> c",.. ion . nd until todiy. Th< modem ",.der, ,nd p"rticuLirly or>< I"'ling fdigiou>
00....'"'.".

indude> n.. ny fa>bOOh, tho ~ IKI"ih thal ". ill t.. " th" h us 01 "tent ion in thi, book, w.. compos<J in P..i of lif<. t...utiful . nd !,oig .... nt, .round the bibl'col !look of lomentat ion~ It con"'y«'pef"fKes of 10.. , nd ootrumti""". So"", • ppfoo< i n~u.n<"ofthe public "'fn", ,," tt.< .)nagogu.- ,n institution th.." " ,,""'" ,uch ... Iues •• pub~c «Iuwion onJ 0 ..1 >Tti"ic ",mmunbtion. My own , ppfO;lch i. to ,how h"", both of th" .. fofn .. t;" bodi .. -th. oc ""'m~ . nd the ,yn'gogue-w"", olso ope" to other ,,,d.Ii,ing inst itution>, .bo", .11 •

..

the fam ily, ,u" l aoJ urban pub! .. ani!t ie d;.cou ... of ,h. tim.,

'pac". and th, pol itic, l, (,",,,,,,,,,ial •• nd

n.. ,,,.,,' "'pre....J In ,h. ,<>t rep, ... nl bolh the ,Ii" aoJ the broad" iay'''' of _i .. y. ~Iuit ivoc.li'y ,00 w l"'=,i", .nkula,ion, eh .."".ri" .. f,,tu,« of "bIl in""lli" .. ,ur" ar< abo conwy«i in the rich rep""n"'l oon of g.n ... . oo [O{"" of J i>rou,,, u, ... lIy iJlk htm,u"" Th, nla ,k> of 0,,1 , ..," ivity..., os ,h. bu ilding bloci« of lhe w, it"n

..,,,,,aIed

ta ' . Contempomy lhinking, part"ubrly ,ultu ..1and li " .. ry theory, pro-vi<J« the ,,. .. ing poinl fO, nty "oJy of Jewish ane"n' li"wu", as. m.onifOld . oo muitieon""u.i I'Y'''m of ani!tic communic""'n.

Thi, book is ,he produc' of Y'a" of study . nd " ,,>reb al th, D.pa"n",nl of Hebrew utero' u", " the Hai. rn, My "",her ..

1"''''''''''

eoll
. oJ it"""n!> at lhe o.p"'n",nl >m, my variou, of th, "",,.,eh. I ".'" [>fivilq;ed to he .
'''8<'

n"n qLLilitl«.,.1I "ag.' of nty wo,k. lonah F,.. nhl. who fo,mulated . uniqu< ",hoU,ly vis",n of lh' po
"""""h.

P"''''''

[>fint
'0

of ,h. In5ti,u"oflewish S,oJl« at ,he Heb, .... Un"", .. ity, I wi,h

'0 ""n,ion

with gr... ' 1,!,,,,,I"ion ,he I." E. S. Rosenlh.l . oJ y..1rov SUI,n"n. I lhank my coll<. gue' fo, th.i, adv'" .oJ con"""n' o: T,n", AI,uruler. Haya B,,-Itzh'k. Dan 11m-Am".. Yo .. m Bilu, y..kov Elbaum. o.l<-d 1,..... i. loohu. l uebes, DanO
Sch~" ""

An" Shap i.. , DavKl

Shulman, David St.m. Haim W,lM, Eli ... "'f. 5",. Zf"n"n. Sl""ial ' .... nk> to Ariel Hlr>ehf. ld, Kulka. Migdo, Sh i.... n. and Il i". S"in. Pinh .. Marul,l g.""rou~y sh.rM wi,h m, hi, philological fiooi,,!!, on La .."". r",n, R""rulo .• oo I ' .... nk him in the bOOy o"h. ~'h .... w, I mad. us< of th.m , \\~tho UI ,he help of Ari
Run."

,<>,

and II .... M.u' ne ,. of th< Heb,,",,' Un iv..r~ 'y, I could 00' have rompi
Htb ...... Mitio" of thi, boo< . oo m. d< ... fu i oo""< Engli'h t ranslation, Th< ",maining nu,ul=, howeY<" .'" mi",. Th.anb to tl>< «l ito, oftl>< H,brew ve,oon of thi, book. my fri,in. ,o. «lito, of the Gllltr.,'< I,raeli Mini"'~ ofF.< of the tr. nslation, Th.anb to Hewn Ton" 000 St.c,y lynn at Sr."fon! Un,,,,";ty Pr.... '0 ropy M itor Ruth Ste,rob<,!;, and to Il.otyo S1
,n.,

00<"

th, mo" ",,' i"", o" enti"". ,nd I"tient t " nslato, I h,,,,, <1'<1 n",t. Through my >Iud,,, of Htbr<W 1i1<"'u" ,nJ !<wish folk li t"ature I . m P'«''''' ing th< tr'"ltion of my forefath", 000 motl>b>oo, Freddie Rokem, who my Iii, .00 my

>ha,,,,

""h«l partn", to d"'log"" ,nJ study, 1><1",-«1 b<)'loo wo,d~ G. H.-R. Tra"~ator'.

,heautho,.

1'01<: Th< " ,nslatio" "'.'" « rri«l out with 'h, (oo""ration of

. _HAH I M N. a l ALlK

.

if ,~, lat j, Juhj«f '0 ''''''' jm", ,M, form ;, no' "nolary•• rehi'''''""i" fin;", " ~ ~ frogt'''"'' ,n" sMnU, ,II, l~o.lm .". obl,u,"uJ """",,1'-011 tI.. """mlmti and jnjkricru of a,...,' 'dW",' wit;," f"'",iti bo,h <>w,t..r¥"t and 10", of ""'sag<>." _OOLASO . . . TH . .

,

THE STUDY OF FOLK NARRATIVES IN RABBINIC LITERATURE

TH O CONC"~ o. ,hi, booIo: i> ""i'h 'he p.. odje li",.,u .. in late An' iqui'y. Thi. ,ime i, known in inlr.ocul,ural !<wi'" I<,m • .., the f'<,iod of ,I>< Mi"'n'" . nd ,I>< T.lm ud. or , .... ,.bbonic "a, . M in " Sio",,1 political '<1m.. " 'he f' in Pale"ine . nd ' hroughou, ,he ",.orld. '''IIether wi,h 'h< d ... nK,;"n of , ....

'0

Templ< aM J u< "~, ludai,m ""pM cultural p. mrn, 'hOI ... "" pardy '-n ,u, .. in«! up ' oourown 'ime~ II~.... in th ... f'<,iod ,1>.0, J uda;~n beg.in 'Ii comple>: cul,u,al fl< .J i, li",.,u .. ;. rich .nd mon ifold. ",hola", ... "" focused 00 ' h< conlp«'iV«. Th< ,,,,,arch found .. ;" n. hid from , .... ni",,'«n,h «n,ury o",,~rJ byou" .. nding ,ueh .. l.or'" ",,,,nul. Wi lhelm O'c .... r.• nd o,hm,"'''''
ngu""

'0

"",,.,,h

lite,.ry forms of Agg.>d.!h. indu din~ il> l.Ingu.g.. and ",,,io",. , nd on it! ch.,.oc,.r;',;, patt,rn, of ' h,nk;ng.' All .d>Ola" of . ggadic li'''''atu .. h."" .ocknow!«Iged 'hOI folk I"""u .. "'... '" a>p«t of ,I>< 'piri'ual and cul,ural ,,,,,' ivi'y of ,.bbk 11""'..a. ",me .i<w i, " • «n' ral
,h.

,

th,litewu" of the Talmud.oo the ~I idwh, oth ... ,oo";de, it I, .. impo'tint, Th;, book makes folk nmoti," .... arch th, " .. ting point fo, t.... study of "bb inic I,te ,otur< •• nd th,r "'ill eme,);, from t .... <,,",p'''' ofthi. bool<, foillite,.,u", ole.l, wi,h ,h. mo;" import. n, i...... of it> ,im•.

,"n..

i.. (fi, ... 00 How I..e offolklore in ' h, li te,ature of 'he 01'(000 «",u,i« c.> ,j, . nd particularly in 'hot of , .... Pale .. ini.n "morn;m (0"" ' .... nu' ' h"", huoo,ed y<"... j, be unole ,,,ood1In.1I form, ", li teralU"

'0

k"""'n u, - w " ;nly Hebrew Ute'alure, .nd pe,h • .,. world li' '''' u..... whole----no'hing .. semble> ' he 'WJic M,d .. ih in il< multi plici' y of ";mulu""",u. pe"I""'i,~., which .. nge f,om de>criploons of ,,,,,yJay life prophfl" visiono, from p",,~ ,b> bearing ,o. group'. "peri<1'" in gene ,.liHd 'erm. 'h, pri.", se",.m of pain. Local« ihif, fro m uppe'"'n m.. ke, aileY' . nJ even below. The r.bbi' unp",ll '00 ,n .. U

'0

'0 mo" moo' ..... '0

0' '00 negligible ' 0 be i", luoled.nd perceived .. . n"""",'Y part of 'he whole, II'ho, rone",n, u. here, then, i, • gigon'ic, (011«,il'< m 1,u,,1 opera-

'0

,ion, ",,00... mo, i,-.,i"" • • re <100< in e"'D'" ,.-ho, . n' hropolot;iSI Gillonl Geert. detlned as "thick olese"ption:' The ..,umption hm, ' hen. is tlut ,h. rabbi> were .:emed with ,h. iv< ethnog"phic "",o,J ing of ,h.i, m lture, he",. ,hei, .. riau • • pproa
'0

1'....,,'" of these bOOi" of cul,ure in all ..,1m, .nd genre. of 'he ,.bbinK enJe-"... ,. "An ""mpt to .u,vey lewish folklore in ,II iii "I""" withm ' h,limi"of • ~ngl< I<,<,uf< wouW be no' only pf<Sump'uo", but . 1", futile," "" ,ote Loui, Gi",toe'g in the opening ",nlenee of hi, 19)! \K,u .. «Ieb"ting H..,-ard'. th,.., huoo,ed,h . nn ive,,,,,'Y" i, tm< of lewish folklo", in general i, ilio true offolklore in the large" ",,"",I
"","""ver

in,roduc,ory .. m"b '0 ,hi, book. ""~f1he"'." I 00..,. nl)'< "udy of foIldo", .. 0 «;'n"fie di«iplil>< off... . "nge of .. ",,,ch method, enabl,ng • ",hollrly ,"""",n"", Ie. 1 'I'P"""h ' 0 bod ... of knowle.!g"oJ m'''~'ity in all . both onc;'n, .oJ 'nOOem, .oJ in ,-arie.! ch,nn. pletu,.. , moven",nt, ",,,e, 000 ,i,wl.nJ .ymbol" t>ehovior, 11>< ",,,n,,6< "udyof 'uJai,m ,nd ,h. study offoiUo« begin .. ,10< >a m<

, in"" both.", rooted in ,t.. . ",.k< ooJ in I'hilo\ogito,bl "'hoo1. it ,bou, . ",,,,h for ,t.. :tIlc;'n, <001(<> of m ltu,", Thi, "'-.., tt.. apP'<>Kh of _h ",bola" .. SigmuoJ Fr... nhl, Ah •.!ham Tendlou, MOl: Gru cleo, .,iO ""' hoaog;zing pro;"::t in tt.. """y "On ' he Anthologizing of Agg.oJah; and hi, blueprint for . Zion i« Hebrew cu l,u", in aoott..r """y. "The Hell"", Book," Bi,hk "fer"'" ' 0 .ggaJ" Ii' ''' ture ... ,he claM" beU .. -lenres of ,he !<wi'" people ... ,..,11 ., 0 """hy and ""'itable rerla<ement fo, ,10, folk "' ''''Ul'< of hile (fO! him, ",.. ,nly in Yi&i,sh ).· Bi.Jik', ron"mpora,y, il'O,, ' Berdyaew>l<,', appro",h w., more p.a"nuy folklori"" ,ban Biolik',. Tb" e"'pha," ""'" ' 0 'he fore both in his <>p.an';on of compil.otion effort< beyooJ ,.ibbin" Iite,,'ure ' 0 in.::lude meJ;'val fietion ,oJ in hiHi' inS of )" ..1"'1 "",ion, of ,bf " me "ory from J,neren' ><>OJ,,", like il<1' "'""",' in

,.,,~ .. I of hi,

" tid", .. ,,~II .. in tbe <=. Mor< tha n Be,dycrew>ki, tJow, ..... . oo <eruinly mor< than Biali• • Ginzhc",nt ific I'<",arch n"'thodl. If< a1", pia«d moog.. empt""is on t o. inte,... cultural ch..ira0 be,ng publi>h
W;"m"""f'

,."m,,"InS.

1;",

the IU' they ""tually .. moinly . oo mo,", d;'t inctil'mmun ic.""" dimens ion , mbod,oJ in comp,"'i"" """mh.' Thi, concern with .. bbin;'; fol' litor"u,", .. p J i"'ipi< AI""'nde r Sch,ibe, were .mong tt.< "'.!<1m of tt.< Hunll",i. n ..1>001. which wo, '~ry active 000 inRue nt;"1 in th, ilOOY of folk lit",tur<.' n.. focus on fo lklor< in .. bbinic litm tur< ,I", IN to ,n int"''' in th, r<1"'oo>hip I><"""""n tbe leXt.oo other in'''tu,,,,,,,,liZ«i cultu ..1 «>ntext~ ;uch .. folk rriigion .. it ""'''ge' from tl>< il udi<> of Al"igoor Apt",,'izer. By the tin'" he conciLKtoJ hi, "ud .... fu ... tion,l'"" had . I read~ 1><00"", • domina nt t'"'oo in to. "ud)' of cultu,",.nd ""''"''Y . nd had . Iso .ff"",oJ the g""'g.-.phic-hi>torica l ",hoo], which had '" far '-n " the cente, of folk".iilk "".,.rch. The crux of thi, th«>ry en" ,10 , >hifi ,ng of Iocu, from th, text pef .. to the 'ext in ruitural rontexl, ,nd to to. funct",ning of every

,t!

cultural exp .... "'n .... ithin th. g'I1<'101cootext of culture .. " Y'tem. Qu<,tion, . 000llocal ruitural .J..ptohon, , nd 'pedfic w'Y' of implementation and perform.1rKO in ewry work r< fir" to oppr<=h .. bbmir (.. w
,tid .

.. I) li."ature with. theory n"'tt.oJology th.. had '-n tried in the >tooy of folk literature ri ..... t.<'"'. He followed the " ",..ch 'ppro",h of I.",.. F.."" "no, in Th. GoIJm Bo"III, compiled folk-lite .. ry n"torul from.1I 0 .... ' to. ""rid in order to poi nt out the ""'-.Iopn",n" ] link, bet"""n ",),th , nd rinul. n.. th,no;ng of Y;"h"" Heinemann ,nd ~b, Kadu>h in in'PoroJ the >tudy of folklore in .. bbinir lit"ature by ,uggesting that .pedfic

""g<>-

,I" of thooght .nd e","ivitr, tr.d,t.:",.lly ("",Ode",d popul .., .oould I>< view«! ., to. ba,i<: inf.."ructu", of r:obbini<: ,,,,t ivity in g.,..,ral, ",hetl><, oeho!"ly 0' populo,. Hd""",,nn', "o'l\.nic 'hinking," fo, ins"",,<. i> do .. to til< ".. v. g. "und" of L'vi-S",w;~ ",ho ''I\u .. 1I,.t thi> typ< of tninki"ll unit.. to. "",ion, of I'''prir, ,o. hum," ", i, it, ",~,ywo.". I','here., L'vi-

St"",, "m.. oed witn,n tto< confin" of p,im,ti,'< cultUI<~ RoLand B.!nh .. "rooM to. "my' hoIof;;"" of West.rn indust,i.il mku",. ,. CIe-"ly, tn... '0 'h< of thti, own. SOIll< unOq"" '0 ,hem .nd some that 'h< , ..... rch tool. of the .dciplin< he h...J o<:qu i,ed in tl>< United Stat"'"~ Dov NO)' combined, g«>gr' I>hic-h isto ,ic.1 .pproach .nd • n.oo"". fun ctionall.m in hi, "ud'.. of rabbi nic agg.>olic lil< fir>t to b' ing into tl>< "udy of . gg. doc lit"'t UT< tho "'pe,i.oc. o<:qu ired in folklori stic fi<1d "",,.,,h, ~t.ich I>< ,lso .pphed to hi, n.. in I< .... "h enl<rp'io<. the Israel fo lh.l< A"h iv... TI>< A"h'v.. b'ing tog",!,", A"igdor Sh i""n. Rather than "udying ora l re,fo,n"n« from the pe ' 'I''''ti"" "ffolk I,,.ratul"<. h. dealt with thi, dimOt . n .ndea_ li mited to tl>< ',impl<" or "low,,' ,!. ... ~ w< m ight.rgue th." in peind pl<, tl><

loc"'"

sa m< academy in which "'nah Fr""nl:< ",,,t ion of ,.obbinic lite,.. u" . Iso prodlJ(<"< rabbinic eo,pu' wl>1>0> until ,I>< m,d-l9b. In hi, "ud;",,,f rabbinic ' wadi< lit"'tul< h< included nrofuncof pe,fo,tionolist "P"''', ,..hi
«,,,,'"

n.. ,,«.oo on tM c«l th< 'OrK'pt of th< g! "",arch mod1 ''''"'pI
'0

I"",

thi, «holarly , ..J i''''n ,nJ ed h"n",,..,u,kal (On«",,,,,,,,,,

'0

>Om< ",,"n', h. , r
n., tr..J it"'",,1 comp'," i, ... m"hod, (oot inll< to t",n ou, >110"" thot '" bro."" th,n too.. "'rn.:",,-kdg... I
.ggod"

m"".I"i

,uU .. ted by histori.n, of 'LKh .. I"'k "..goff, N.toli .. D.vi .. RWrt D"nlon. ,Dd ot he, ~ Th< ronc.. nl''''''n on fo lk """ivity , l,,, P'''~' the w. y fo,. "",ial h ..tofJ" th .. i, oot co"nf'oE'd to poli'bl ""Ii>l>«. pkt"1< of the 1'.>1 thot .1", indud« f"g""''''' of <"'flu'y Uf..

(in the wah of Mi,hel de un..,,), ond broad.. concept, of MUll<> (in to., w.h of Pi ..1'< !Iourdi.... ), to., en" iro nment 000 the ""ti" it i" CI'.oo t"""" of " . "I><"'""n Jew> ond Christ;"n,." '"'' "ntil the fo"rth «ntury, can thWl b< undmtood mor< bl'OOdly. Rather t hon I>truM sokI y in term. 01 • pokmk. thry can induJe • wid . . . p«tru m of po"ibH,,"". p,rtly of d"IogLl<, partly of di.pute. Dei>'ing into the m" .. Wi of popular culture I<.i ... to the o.. umpt;"n thot polemic> ,,~'" n.. inly typk.1 of tl>< I..dmhip """um, w,""",o. ewrydiy life wo, char> of in1<"uitu..1communk.,",n.

Folk h«,,,ul< i> in"''''...... '" " "..,;"u. I,,~I. of .. plk;'""" in rabbink .gg>di< literature, SchoL", . dd"",in& folk ""rr"i\~ deal with the multi · l.1)' through multi ..o ..1 mode> of di literature tog< rith" to it. noroo tbry .taIo:e d . im, of 001< "",,'",,>hip. It;' tMil,,,,,,,"! 000 t "n,mitted from 0"" gen.",;"n toonoth ... I" moin ond origi n.! n.ooe of ",i" etKe i> oro1. and it> oni,,", fMur<> ar. the .... ult of it< r<-<"mOOOn i" '~rour!< if f"ior""'"U, which .. one of it> d"ti",",i>< f"'ur<~" n.., fo l ~ literatul< included in the rabbinic corpu. therefore r",,,,,",, w;" on «ho of . n . "dent for m of fo lk cr,,"ivity. in m<»t ca><' totally ""ered from its conte,,, of "'mre~tion . nd I"'rforma... ooJ., p. rt of • te give '" on opj>Ortunity to I<.. n about th, .. cil(u mnan<". through 0 wmpar;"'n with wh .. i> imown to '" about ttl< of folk lit"'t ul<, its perforn .. "", ond its co nte
,,,,.too.

at

to;nic corpu. will turn

our . ttent;"n to a>p«t, tlut are oot n"'.... rHy or to. center of traditional >eOOlirly inter<>! with r.obbinic liter.. ure, The foc", ,uUe"ed he .. will highlight .w'yJ. y lif. ... mltu ral category ",h.. th,n .. the b.clgrouoo or the «tting for n>ore i"'ron. nt, "hi!torical" .vent~ Ught will thw; be.tled on groul" that h,,~ '" for """n in the iludow of the sa~.. -the ><:hoI.! .. of the K.oJ<my, tbe iJ>m . pprwtudy of folk lil.. "UI< I<.d> U. to women, pI., . 00 " .. nger> of.1I kinds,.oo .om...,., thei, mntribution to the poIysptem", ,hu.octer of .. I*>ink mltul<, "

n.. melhOOo!ot;i.,.1 .pprw io.:w; on folk litmture. n.. folk """, i, ... in .. rlou> .. bbink ,"' ritinS'.re oot pe,«ived her< os "p" .. nling the to"hty of .. I*>,nk fol~ li"rature, 00' .11 it< themes, mo,ifs . • nd genre"

n..

Up.bled logit. ",.. of lhe wrhi"s ,nd the . b.ibJe to ac« .. the o,igi". 1 wI,;"n, of the ,,,,t> os tbey were p,odLKed by thei, .utho ... orally .nd in w,iting" ,.nd """,nd, the pheoomenologk.1 ink wo,k< do.ely """Olbl< tho« of folk lite,ature i" gene ral-lhat ;,., mo.>t of I .. ""'terial w.. O(=~bI . ." """"..,i, of general Jmm,.ledge 10 tbe vari0U5 portn,,,, in the ere.. i.., proce .. , til< t ran.m"~oo inlo w'iting re"",ined inmn,""' . 00 often ",,,.I, . nd the , ... ,,;"n< tlut ru,~ " " hed u, are partial . nd >on",..-hot (orluitoo>, I"rticuhrly ," . 11 trul
Thi. "udy i.largely b,a",d on ooe wo,k of ' U . do< ~te,.,u" (rom ,be pe,iod of tbe r,Ies"m,n "m.",,,m (thOld 10 ~xth cen'ury c .•. ). n.. wo,k" til< MOd rash w"""'ati",,, R"hba/', whkh expound, "pon the bibl",. 1 Book of l . n",n,,,;",,,, R"",."h dOl'" lhemOlp il";"" of'hi, f',I,,,,in ;, ,, Mid .. sh 10 the Mth <entury, 1'1 " .. "hele ... ",hot w< know • bout the dr< of it> v,,;"w tr,n""u"";",,,. ~

ra""".-

Umt"""''''"' Rabb.Jr. lik< other d .. .. bl F';le" ini. n rtkul .. ly Gttr"" fYlj>N/' . nd Lni',,", Rallboh, indud .. < g"'ot deal

of foll;- li«,, 'Y rn""ial Uke G
t' in the for m ge", .. I!), kn""71 ., "eug, ,.,1""lon "ructurtp<>U ooN '0 the public. ], """Id bt ""rong, however, to ",,,,Iude eoch on, of ''''''''' in",tu,oo" .xerts <xd",iw in~uetl{e <wCool... diff.. regard ing the

ti,.,

dom,nan' infl""",e of th,,,, two impor"nt ;n"i,ut lon, on midrWik 1"",ture. Unq"",'OOlI.ibly, bo,h h ..... left on iooehbl, rn"k on th. "nKW", of mid..,hk di...,.,..., ,00 i" ....00.. of I;tmry compo,>it"'n. ll>e pre",ot "udy odd •• ne", d imen ~oo '0 '''''' i ntol]",tu. 1,00 '" pe rient ..1>1 t ..... in" itu,,,,n, rely iOIoIy, 0' almo" "",Iu, ively, on oral di«our><. Inl of '''''' cre"ivity in 'he ... de my ,nd th, .ynagogue" ,hi, t im. wos.oo oral. Th,,,, in" itution" however, f'O"<""d t o. cul'u, .... inSlru meo" for de""lorio g 1'10«"'" for the co""nlz.o,ion-n,.t ion .00 in"i,utionali,ation--of 'he «Other root"" in th. rume of . nor""', ,abbi, 000 0 mul"g.n10 Ie ",ri'in&, " 'he ,i me oft o.i, composi'ioo , """'mheb,, in th, "" ,itt,n ",,,Ion ,,·.iLrble '0 '" tod.y, th. dis,inc,iw oroJ h,u", eon,,,!!, .. , n on,i,he", 10 ,he wfi"en formulation. ll>e conI ro" bet",,,,," the", t",o fo, m" how,,~r, i, mod , .. red bee. LI>< of 'he

nurnerou. n"nu>::fip" .nd priottIoic ll>e 1"0<"" of ",-",,,;on in the ""rio", roOI<'" con thu, be nude ",pilei,. by bringing to '''''' .u ,f",. the orol c..-ati'' 'ty of folk I,tm ture."

"",k.

n" focus on folk li,,,,,u,, will . 1>0 " . d u, '0 "",valu". ,o. iden'ity of ,h. socW groupo ' 0 whom we li .... '"re " lb< ",du,i\" end".or of, "",Ie ",ubli,hm,n'. 'he accoun' ,luI fol low> will ';gnifi.-:. n,ly ch.ng. ,hi, p
n" """ :lu,,, ,u8I;.<1«1 for ' h" book i, ",...n' '0 ..M. ""d ,ub,un' "," n.. 'hods for .nalyzing ,nd inl<rpr"'ing foII:-h,,,,ry ",... rial in agpdic Midro,h. Th. moo' .. 00. 1 and >p«itic f.ot"re of ktlk li .. w"re iI, in my vi,w, i" rorul:lJl' r<-<","",n in clunging con"Xl~ I haY< ,heMO'" chc.;en '0 . nalyz< !h. folk-I,"rary "", .. rial in .. Ia, ion '0 'he ",Iev.n' rultu,,1con-

''''li whe.. 'hi> re-c"""n pro<"" ul«> pl",•. In principl', .11 the m ateri.o.l i, obv",uslr linUd, to 10m< <>t,nt, '0 ,II ' h, ron"," introdoc«l into the disc"";"". For ,h. ",ke of duity, howewr, I haY< tried '0 pl ...... h tt HI"min" .. it! charact study, which I'i<w> are me,n' '" ",,"ri>,ic ".p~ aiming to >how the comp!ni'y ,rod the
"'P'''''

,y",m.

of the cult"re 'hrough an . nal)'>i' offoll: li,m tu .. , inform«l by'" ",bolarly . rod h< ,ha, "",meJ more ",b,l. '0 inf< "Xl~ or on !h. ",ten' of lh.ir impact on the e","",n of th.", t""t~ Each d i"""",n i, ptK«I«I by an <xpo>i' ;"" of ,he central eooc.pt. uS«! in I.. p .. ",n' ''''''' . nd .nalyt, which «<m. to be ,he mos' vi ~t.ie "" i'hin ,h. 8.nml fr.n""""k enrompa>h . A dOiC", (OIl"'" ""I"i"" "' to con&ider,,, bockground, the in"'rpr"'''",n ofl i.... ry work> in g'''''''1. Th ..."

" tl>< <.n", of tM d""u,~on ,,-.. thu. cbo",n I>OV<listic folk ll1,rat; ... of. tr. gic human d"'t,ny" the ti"" of th, de>truct ion of the T. m ple-"fl ich in 'he COUN< of the ,h.p'" will <"''''ge .. ' .nt;-oo\'"I;"k" -unfolds ;n the Midr»h, . f", its li'''my ",-,,,,,ioO\, " . "",'",ful work of .". a.'pI" J p"""nts ' M gen", ront<"'. The ""-'mpl< I ,110", '0 ide, allowi fo" mmplex ' l'ProKh to 'h" .ubj«" I>«.u>< ,ho t<XI ;01-01"", . ch.in of >to, .... ,II of th"m linked ' 0 . oo" -na"'t;'" folk- lo"",y gen,,,, ,h. ,iddlt. 1\ ,ich in''''g< .... ,ic du"", is ,hu, <","ed. Th. g.ne,ic (har"'t'" of the t"" i.... m ined in its fo,mal "I""t~ .. w"U •• in th< me. ning ~ I><"ow. 00 th< genm lli t, th .. <:us>Oint of g.n,,, ", ill h< film;ned here fro m. com l' ",'i\~ r
1"""'""

u;n, do", link.> wit h other ""p'''''''''n. of folk ''''' ivity: P''''' ic"" 1><1;,,(,., ''''''', .nd "". 111< follJo,;i1k context ilILI>, ...«l e..'" ;, 'he p''''tie" of d,eam int"'p",,.t"'n. T""" of "or ... . bout d r"m int<rp,,,wion "" a.rn inod h"" ;n th, 'f"'<xt..ty, by . ll 'g<>, ge"da~ .00 d . ..... In

")'<'1"'

,hi, .lup" " folk Ii"""",,, i" .gpdk Mid .. m i. p=ntoo .. op"",n8 up options fo, ,hanging th" «)'''~ntional p;
"I""..

.. an in"itutoo""lited m:ol" ""p,.,''''n of academy .. hoi." , Jn te.. n",ion. offolk lit"wurt ;n aggadic M;d"sh,,~ , J", hear ,o. ,-ar;..] vole .. of people who "" oot I"" of te.. ,,,.bii,hment c",";ng th, writt,n tex', the ,,",.. of too.., wh"", ron'",t with th"'"tOo" olth" ,,,,t ;>through o,aI I,t""ry choo""k no. ,hap"" focu ... ,!",
IU"""'" inte'a. OI'pte , I is devot
people of I< creato" of this lit"'ture or< interpret«i in th...., text, .. < W< . uthors oft ... Midrash i, not u"'l","ioning. It expo"'" ,omJ>l.. ity thot include. I>< .ub;.cr ""ul" from the fr to portray religiou, exper"n,,,, "The fifl;jl contnt. di>cwsed in Chopter S, is the h",onul cootnt of the ,~ ic ~hdrw. . Foil lit"'tuf< h"1r.icuree for t'" history of the period. In tl>< cour>< of .. posing the di"incti", f."u r.. of folk lit""ure in 'he mid,.shOc "on.~ thi, ,h'pte, sh«b logh' on the compln mut".1 reb'",nship' bet"""n ,h" acte" ,nJ im'ges, between ''''"'' . 00 ".rwi,,, plots, bet",.en memo,", . nd histo,"" bet_n vision . nd reality.

Aggodi< li,.,.,ure, ,nd P"le;tin;"'n

.~ic

lit"'tuf< in po,,>.:ula r, is .uf-

fused "" 'th mater;"'l, thot work through the "'perienee ofl<», . nd mourn ing following the destruction of the s..:ooo T.mple, . 00 'he poin ofth. opp .... >ion "LI>«l by the c0"'l",,,,,,,nd rule" ofP"l<>, in,. L"'''"'"tio", Rob""lo, ... Midn.sh thot bestow, new n""ningon the Book oft... ""n"t "'o, klr the d"truct ion of the Fir>! T,mJ>l. in tl>< th, ,n",unte, I><'"""n . theo,etic.! fo.:u,

on • cuhu,.u-.pin'u.iI.ubj«1 . 00 the h"meneuti<.! focus on one pmkub , midr>shic ,,"O,1c '" Th i, comb,n" ",n cho ' >< . di" ''''t;,.., f,,, ure of conte mpo"ry UtefO ' Y"ud,,,, of Aw<W> ,

pe-' "

,ha,

Llm,"'ot"'''' R.lbb.h ;. m> ;, the lirst ""'.. of the Book of L1.mentat "n~ "How [,iUra) do<;, the (;,y .it soIita ,y' (the num
,,v,,,

mak ing up the word 'qLLiI, thirty-"x) ," Th< s«ond p.an of the Modra,h corop""" liy" ,h'pt"" p.arall<1 to the Ii.... chap'''' of the bibli,,1 Book of LLlnen"tion~ ,00 follow, them ,..,,'" by "'.... Th" fi r" dUple!;' the long<st, , 00 indud .. moit of the fo lk-l ite"ry "",,,,,ial found in Llm,",at"'"' R.lbbah, wh<,.,.. the other> a", p",!:".,iwly shont of Ll '"'" ,"""115 R"bbah ""ct> to t h«",nt> ofthe Je>truet "n ,nd it> ,fte,moth on, hum,n, """"nal, .,,,,,,;' ntiol ,,,,,I. Ambiguity ,nd tens"m t""'~ru val"", w< te OO to .... as "I'",.. nting -iudao>m' 0' "rabbinic lite,atu",' ' " poign'ntly <xp'.....:I ot thi> b ·t ruetion ofth, Temple, The motto of mo" oft he pro<m. i. the ph .. ", "8e-cm" they "nn«!. they """e .. ile<], bK,,,,,, thtruction of the T<mple. 'The pro<m>. which .'" la'" than th< boJy of ttl< Midra,h,.", p.ar1ly' n>o,aliSlic '''pon", ffl:oncil ing id ' k
""pon'"

,los<,

"",ierK",

no,m"i," .iJ< of the tens< d;"logue GOn"'ying the GOII«t i ,~ conS(iou, .... ~ The study of the folk li1<'"U''' incluJeJ in the I'JJ""ini,n 'ggadic Mid ,ash m.I)" thmfore, .,p.and ,nd d<ep of the people liying in P,"",i". in Lat< AntiGuity. I do not ,ugs"" " ,.ling thi, 1<xt l,t",lIy, i"'''''LKh .. ""lit)' i> oot «-If-lif< ,nd hi>

"" "k:

It Ga m.aliel, R. loshua, R. EIe""" b. A"",;'h,.oJ It Ih,ir way 10 Rome. aoJ

h~.m

Akh~

>me on

I .. moo. in Rom" 0"'" huoJ,ed 000

Iw< heathen, who ",,,,ship id.ob 000 00w down befOI' inug" Ii"" safer, aoJ con"nl •• oJ lhe foot,,001 of 0II1 God hal become d oJ,,, and lurned inlo • haven for lhe be.,,, of Ihe field, ihould we not """"P1" Said he: "Th" i, why I laugh. If 'h
bet", willlh...,. who 00 Hi, will." Onee ,,&-,in '""r wenl up

10 lern,."m. A, Ih...,. ",,,,,hed Mounl

Scopu~

Ihey I
And Ihey " ",hed lhe Tempi' Mounl wh,n • fox ".a< leaving Ih, Holy of Ilol;"" They began 10 "'''''I' . nd It Ak iv. began 10 la ugh. It Gam.1liel .. W 10 him: ·Ali... , roo .r"'~Y"m.az. u~ we _p 'nd)'Ou I,ugh." H,,..id 10 Ihen~ "'\'hy of<)'ou ~'<eping1" R. Gom.Ii
's.., what Akk... "lI ing wi Wben In . pl". of which il i. wlin"n, 'A M Ihe "",ns" lhal corn<> nUl t:}r ) " fon roam~ 'Muld ",.. nol Wffp1 On u, W<> fulfilled; 'FoI Ihi. our h .. n t. f. inl .... Beeous< of Ihe moonlain of 7..ion, which i. """"",,,, M .. prowl OV<1 il·· (Llm,nlalion, }:l]-lS). Said hr. "Thol .. why I liugh. bec,m" ;, i, wrill,n: 'And I took 10 m)"ri'" lbe son of I
" 'I" . 00 lhe mountain of Ih, hom, "

lhe h'gh pr.c .. of • for<>" (",,,,mla h ,.:8). Zek)",i'" ... .d: 'Th",,,Y' Ih" Lo,d ofhoi,,: Old n",n

and wo"",n rull

Y'" again 0"",11 in Ih, "',... of lem .. l.m, aoJ ..... ry

n\a n wilh hi, . talf in hi< lund for '~Iy ag•. And Ih" """" of lhe cily shall be full of boy> onJ gir~ I~.ying in it,

"reel, (Zekh"i"h S:4-}).

'The Iloll' 0 ..... ble.,."j be H" .. id: 'TheI<

Or<

Ih ... lwo "" iln""'~ if

Ihe wom, of Uriy.h '" fulfil led, lhe word> of Zekharioh w,U be fulfilled, and if lbe ",,"d, of Uri),'" '" ri'" will be ,,,·ok
'""r saW

"voW. Ih" word, of ZekIu.-

10 him in Ih,,,, wo,d" "/Wvo,

)'Ou h.w comfort"" U', may you be comforled by lhe comfort",."-

L"","',",O"' R"bban ""S

Thi. is 'he l.!" narr.,i"" , .. , in Llm,nlll'''"' RI", comf""ing, following. wide"Pre..! ron",n, ;"n in midmhic lilewuf<'" • who,,_ The _II -known folk

,.,.,

motif ' pP""ing in 'he ,"of)', of .. ""ling dehic . nd fol k ",d i, ion ,t.< proph"

.boo,

Elijah,

.boo, ' he . ngel of .Je"h, . nd .bou, Asmoo. ,",,"

Here, iI ,,,,,,m
'p«:ul fo,m be.. u .. ' he t.<,o behoving in .mazing f",h;"n IS It Aki"d, who i, kn.,...n for. n",'bod of .. pouOOing Sc,iplu'e> 'h" ... rib<> nunlerou, .nd UIl<>p«:,ed "",anint' '0 ,he "'...,., The ,iddle i, 'ppa,ently ",lved ' hrough homil .. , ,harae«,i,,;' of R. Akiva'. "",Ihod. I'.wnh.ek ..... in m any other m,d .. sIIic >lO,it" ,he ",Iu,;"n of 'he ,iddle i...comp.nied by ,h. """glhen,ng of il> darke r p."ne" ,h. I"raOOx, which poinh to an . mbiguity ,hal is no' fu lly ,<1OIved This i, Ill< pain in""'
."",ie

unde ..ta nding of ' h, ",diet. The a"is,ic POW<' of ,h. mid .. sIIic wo,k ,ucce .. fu lly;"'", ,hi, mn ,.-.dic,ion,,, well .. o'her~ Th rough il> unique ;;'''''Y form, which >I I",., "p".. ion '0 m,nf , ....... , ,t.< .. bbinic Mid,,>h pre"'"I> , mulhrlicily of n",,""" " ,he, ,h,n a lingl< .u,hori ... i"" one. The '''', which o,igina' ", in 'he ext'!;",is of lIIe Bibl<, is ,,-,;;'bl< to lIIe mode,n ,e..!.. for "';nl
2

THE LITERARY CONTEXT OF FO LK NA RRATIVES I N THE AG GADI C MIDRASH INTERPRETING NARRATIVE STRUCTURE

ThuoJ, ~ " p""pmiw of q"O'"Mn5, " ",i,"8' of "m",rum." .... "'OW ""ly its J,p.","", .nd "'"10k _ROLAND ' , " T H "

AGG. o,e TOXT> O. ,t.e Rabbi. are oft,n of uniqLl< I,te rary qu,lity,'

~t.ny

folk na".. iw. in th is < follow ing ""lysis may"'''''' to high light ani,ti< fMu"" .nd lite"'"1 fo,m. of folk n"wi"" p«ul", to Ib" P,"",inun

'W'l ic Midrash.

Alite"'y text". muki"l"nt 'Y'tem of .... ,iou, 1<>"<1. of "'P""'''1l. Fo, the pu,!""" of ,h • • nalY'''' the langLLig. of 'ron,nu .. ion m. y "" view,d "'por",I.,. from th. con«n' ", e..ag'" .... m«l 'h,ough ,t.e t",., Thi, ",ilKi .. "'pow",n i"ntended fo, .""I)1icol pU'I"''''' only ~n«. in fa ct. lb. """'"'ge h .. no pr<-lingulsti< 0' ",n,-

'''''''Il<'',

lingu;,,,, , nd no m"ningful rombination of word> can po<>ibly .m< . nalY'liof th. «XI m. y .odd,... ",,,,,al 1,,,,1, of lang""'ge: ",und>, wo,d>, .oJ ","ten,... In work> longer than th",to, ... found in ' &g. d;': Midt1>him. "«n'ion .hould ,Iso be I"id to 1''I\ft unili, w
,.

,h. building block> fo r ,h. I<,~I of wo,d~ ",hil< ,0. h.1 of ",n" ..,,,,,.

""~I

of wo,d, bu ilJ. ,he

5<,,,"1 """,in, ""~I! co n . 1>o I>< dis<"n«i in con"n' ........ g.~ .. Ro· land R.!rthes h., . hown.' H.nh" w.. m.. inly co .... ",«1 wi,h nine".n,h .nd '''~n'ieth'«ntu,y li",.,ure, focu,ing on long work, wi,h comple> ploti .nd m,ny tion <-Iy. ,hecla>h by
,h.

,h....to,;".

'0

Let u, ",' u,n ,h. condition, of in'''p''''tion di!Cu»«i in ,h. intr()du((ory (hop'" .00 on «1m< of ,h.m. Th< inle ' p,,"'ion of .n-

."bow.

>I,."

d."t ' ''''' ""'l" th.m .. "" i" ,hei, own tom. or .. gi""n in ou, own ,,<.I,ty" con"mpo"'Y ...od .... Th. fo,n .. r . ppr~h ha, led to. numl>l" the "origi".I' compo"tion of'lI< baS«! OIl mnmle de"il, of ",.IIi' y known to us from ,he study of

,<x,

h;'tory. 1.,,);U.s<>. and mhuology. P.I"go"' of ,h;, ty"" of >luJy .II, s..ul Li wi,h,n I'h,lologicol-hi"",i<.1 "hooI il>
'0 ,..

,h.

Th< «COIld i, 'h, w~ of .d.n,inc ".,,.reh, fo, whkh th. fore father. ",,,rld i, "0 long.. th. oom .... t>d of Ih< ", i, i' oot • h"'o,ic.1 oo;..;:t. Scienti!K COlUCiou>""" 'equi... d",<.,.,. are 00 longe' the obviou> con"'nl> of ,h. p",,,,n' , bIl, ",he , "' '' i n''' " ;.~ .".bling u, ' 0 unde .. ,and in ,he pre .. ", wh ..

..... c".."" in ,he p'"''

In light of rr""nl:inS d . im th.. thOi .. 'he omy -w'y of "'''n,ilie "",,.reh," hi, 'pproalIould be un.i<",ood .. fry ofF.mmo Btudy of .na,ot ''''''. 00 ," i, in"rpf<1.i'ioo. pe'«p,ion

"'V<

ro.

'h" ....m.. to ''''' alffiOi' ",If-.vi.ilI, >rid 'he T.l mud 'f<, ;nd<ed. also p.o.f1 oft .. 00.",,,, ronten' of the p,,,,,,nt , Tbe >tuJy of the.., " " " theo. should " I:< into ",roun' ,h. '-";'1001\5 of ,bei, "''''pl",n in 00 ' cultUf< 'hroughoot hi!to,y. My "",,'n vi<w. which ,nt"p,n, .nc"nl ruitur.1cre" ivi'y within ;,. Ii"", bu, aMU'n<> 'hot 00 interp",... ion i, po>~bI< wi,hou, illCludins , .. p"",n' in w",pI", n>Ode .. i, indO" 'y he """",,,utict, in adJ,t ion to ,I>< b,.. ic i n'pir",on of "ru
Han, Georg G..J.",,,, 'r.'e> ,be historical gop i>1ory of th= mon,,,,, in ' he ruitUf<, We do 00' "",rely ,""I)'Z< , h. lex' ;""If but ,be pro« .. of;" '«
'at,

",e nding ,h. boundar;'" of -PUf<- .. "w.] ;n"'p,,"" ion, h" ,ugg<st ion ... J, to. histo,ical toC",logy oflit""u". Gad.,,,,,, mu","" ,h. J'O',ib ihly of '''eppin~ in'o ,h. shoe. of Ih. oUlhor. in 'h, .. ns< of adopting the

pe ' 'I'«'il'< .ooptN by the ' in IM,r wo, k, Th .. eruble> ,be in"rpf<1On 0 "",. nins shot«! by both ,utho, ,oJ ",ad< ... "'" tim<, G.,!.m .. is highly critic,1of tM Roman'>.: percept""n of ,n"'PreMion, wl>t",Jins the sh.ot«! me. ning ' mpli .. f<, aI", do;"" ,h .. Ihe Inl< m,.ning of ,be I"t 00.. 00' 'mOrai ,d,"",n,hip Mw...n 'he . uthon.nd !beir Ofi~, ...1 .ud .. n,"", ond t"'t 'he "" of inte'P,," ' ;on m ...' aI", tok< in'o ",wunt 'he historicol p"";'ion of th. I.... inte'P "'''' R"Mr than being n.. inly cOIKemN with th< 'hip. inte'P""t",n i, perc,i>'«i .. 0 ""w ,nd un;que "''' ,ve .... For G..J.n>e " ,h. t,m, gop i, ""t • n«' ... ry .yil th .. w, ,hould .... ~ to o'l
"",,,,,,,:e

o J«pe' un
sible ."h< nlO"",n' of it< ,,,,.,;"n, n. m'orbl proc... of ,t.e ,,,,,', lif<,On ' hi> i",,,, G.dIm<" orgun",n' do.. '0 , .. pl'Oj>O>i,;"n of o.ude L'vi-S,,,,,,, ,t.e >1fuClure of 'he m)"lh ,h,ough • "udy of.1I i" "",;"n,. Aw>rdingly, in hi, "ru,:tu .. I'lUly~' oftt.e G,«k my,h of Oedip ... !..'vi-Str' u .. ;OJ", iocluJ", ,t.e ",,,,;"n" 'ep""",ed by Freud',

,twI,

in 1<'p"",,;"n of 'hi> myth." On 'his roin' , GaJ.mer', 'h«>'Y PO"" , probl<m. Gad,n"" argued ' hot 'he hi"",i..1proc"" of, .. "'<
>Oll"'"

<0,,«'

"'" interp"" t ;"n. [Urgaid 'hot, in 'he hutll" provided by ,t.e uoo."uuJ,ng of m<.ning, 00' obi<,,-.tion,"" rul in& 00' tt.e powbil,ty of 00;..:1"'" interpre' ''ion. In hi> v;'w, , .. inte'p"'" "PO><> the original """ni"!l only to the <"'he m...... g<> to d ari!y her own world ot the .. me ti n",. r"re mu>t be Odel~ .u(h .. M'fXi<m ,nd p' ydlO. naJy>i~ ,,",< in"it ut;"n, wi<W in& in1<rpr<1i,-< powe'. Similar tende",'" h."" becom< «ntr, 1 in cultu,oI " udi<s in' pired by mos' mOOern th_;., V"'nded in ,be philooophy of Fouaw" . nd de,-h to toll 'h< tru,h.nd 'he ''''''mh method chosen '0 study it. Th'que,,;"n of whether ,h. "'Ul('" of interpret"ion . r< in 'h< te'" itself or in the in'"p"""" ,ubi«ti.it), i, , .. nsformed by Ricoeu, ;nto ,

"",,,,,,,,utic procedure th .. " "bli,", • .onw,!;<",< " ".«n the inlerp"ler .nd the 1<Xl. ]nle",r"", tr.« t" .ou,,< of the text fro m t" tim< of it> i"'
.dd,"""

t;"n by ""''',ng to cognItive mOOfi, crud. ] to t" ,nlerp"«" ,ultu". Rico.0"" hIS on p'),i... wis: his ph f, ilu" to reLo« to hi"o,ic. 1proc""",,,

wo,.

Re/r ing on th'. bocl will dd with the t<xt both .. "a proi«t,on ofth< world" and .. "communicat;"n of ",Ifunder>tand,ng,'" Th< P')'tanding of th, ".."'''0''' world, and of th, p!otfo'm 'h" w, ,h. " wi,h them .. hum. " beinll" Ou, 'pp''''''t;''n of th.", "...,.g<> does focu, on the mot~·.. io"" .nd the beh,,'io, of the ,h".>Ctm i" the "ory, It " form<J, how """,,ibe.:! .bm~, together with our ... .,...ledS. of the

"o'y.

his'o,i,,1 P"""'" ,n",ibed ,n the w"h ref«.",< '0 both the ... um<J l"'rjOO of it> crM;"n and 'h< hi" o,ical l"',sp«tive thot ha> ' ",«ged betw«n thm and now. Tt.< '<xt "produced below i, • tr,ml.""," ofSolomoo Buber'",dit;"n of u.mm'"""", R.lbbti~. which is based on • manuscript of 'h" Mid,,,h founJ " the Co.."at, library in Rome. A brief ,omp.a roon with the rendit ion of the sam< "ory in the prin«" ....,r>;"n will follow," Thi, i.. "ory ,bout tho two ,hild,," of Zadok, th, H'gh F'ri<st. who ...~" "un " ptiw, on, mal<.nd 0"" f.male. Thi, [child] fell to on< offiw . nJ tho> [child] to one offic". Th .. [offic«] went to a horlo>!. and g. ve hOld . girl for ""i",,· {Ioel 4')) , Aft. the h.!rlot w.n' to the wine m;"n: ' w.,~ " ] who look<

""Ie

like the girl roo h".." let u, w< ,nd ",keJ them in,

n .• girl began to weep. .nd t" 00.,. ... id: ' '''''hy''''

l"u """pingl" Sb" >aid: ·W"" to thi, d. ugh", of, .. High Prio"" going marf'/ ' H. >a id : "Who i, )'Ou , f" hert" Sh" >aid,

'0

·z..Jok

[~h.:

w.,.,,:

"Y"""'; >IIomned fro m YebozoJu] t" High Pri
H, .. id: · ""'h" .. did )'Ou livet" She .. id, "In Iai. m." H" >aid: " In ~'hi11" ... ;0 in mch.oo . lKh • cou'I)~ "L H... id: "11'h" "'... ,h. ' ;gn in )'Ou, courty..dl" Sb" >aid weh ond ,u.:h 0 thing .bo.... •ud . 00 SIKh 0 'hing. H, .. id, ·Did )'Ou hOI..,. brot ..,t" Sh" .. id y<>, ''''''hat 'igo did he hal"'- Sh" .. id: ·H, h.!d, mol< on hi, iboulJ. " .nd when he would wm e bock from scboo! he would unc""", the n>OJ...oo I ""ould k ... it," H.... ;0. "And ""'" ",moo", '0 show)'Ou 'his mol", would l"u koowl" ]i,l himl]. Sh" .. id, . y",: He uncoI·"red his ' Mulde, to h.., She .."'. [Md,tion in M., >",;on: "000 '«ogniud ~" [ . nd th
ot""" ,nd k;• ....J on • • no'''" .nd ""ept to ""h ot"", un,il thei , ",ul, dep.ortoJ , And t"" Hoi)" Spirit " "" out and .. yo.. ·fo" .... I -1':Llm'"'"tio", R.lbhoil, ,,", I "" ish to point out "' .... raJpromin.nt diff",nc .. bct_n Bu"",', ""lion , ~TIieh " P""'"" m'inly ,n lulion , nd A,h""",,i ",di,ion, and th" print«l "" .. ion, whoch "p.... n" ma inly . S
,! popul.!, omong reaJ.I~ In """,,,I ploc ... the "" of the p,;nt«l "",ion i, mol< po
Bu"",

,.,.t, i, ,h. o.... nt of th" wi"" "",reh,nt '0 t"" J.;l off,,«l by t"" .... ,Iot; in ,ontr..t, miMi ng from t"" printoo ",,,ion i, ,h. emph . ~ , on dos,ng t"

""..,.Ied

room wh"", t"" 00.,. 000 th" gi,l ,..,'" PUCN, ClUcul diff""lK""f< in the d ialogue ""tw«n them. Bu""" ""oon ""gin, by conce.ling inlO,mation from t"" ""d", in tho girl'. ,lI>wlke!" -.nd 'g.in ''''''''' to thi, devie" in th" fifth qu<>tion, "The print«l "",~on ''''''''',," , .. uniqu. fOlmub, ion "mch and ,uch" fo, one on,,..,, only.

Some of tM mbtl",". of the "nguag. "nool b< nrto rM in deI.il in II>< " ,lliIalion • • nd 1 (Ollfine 01)'<11 to , broad ",,!liD<, The M;J",h i. w"ll.n in H<' from 10.1. . 00 from lhu,,- ",nd lh,n lh, Holy Spi'it .... Thi. el",u" ~ oot ".lIy p.afl of lh< "ory but wher ,n Milo,;'1 fo,mu" that

.fi<,

'«UfO in ", .... ,aI .ton.. ' PP'"inS both I> one, ,,,,"ng' "'q""o« of m.fl)'rologk. 1 tal«. " 11>< ",un,1> m'king up word. "pr"",nl lh< moit ron<""< 1'v<1 of 100guag. in li1<""ul<, 11>< "orr .boot ttl< two 'icat"" pI.1y on >imiw"y, Roman I.koo.on ,oJ Benjamin Hrw.hov,ki h ..... d iscu....:i th< rok of "m,lar ",uoJ ""l""n«. in li1<my ,,," in II>< ronta t of .lfuctu,.Ii>, ,h«lry•• ugg."ing that ",uoJ, are DOt "gnifi"" pa ... " [};",,'ing .,,,nt ;"n to 'h<m ... r«ul' 01 th.i , po
function of"ngu.g<"). which ,hoo>« word, oot only by their m<,nins but ,I", by th< rh0nologkal.oJ .."hetic imp""ion th<,,.<10 in"n>ify th. ""lh<. Th< rond",n, .. of ttl< ~ic >tory i• • lit"'ry ,onte" lh .. produ«, of >
, oJ orhignifi"nt ,oml"'""nt oftl>< . ni!tic

''''''gy of folk nm"or. in lh< orol mn,mi"ion of .tor.... >ignalms lh< k,nsh,p h< original l."gu.g< otth< story we , re ,on.id in rhy""" ,nd . .... ""'"'.~ so"", of th,m unu,u.il ,oJ ,ugge>tinS • lit",ry "gist" of "ngtug<." The "'I""it ;"n 01 id
in lh< "" .. definite 0' indefin i1<. Th. f«urring ""Old, thu> "'''~ to poinl to th, ,tatu, of the < «n" aI theme of the "ory- <,ion, 'l1'ical of bolh H,br ..... nJ A",",",oc.

Bee,,,,,,

'<1Il'" of the word> are idite>. 'lKh ., ,lraJ Ira -n" [thi. on. ("",1.)[ . nd "Ira,-",,-hi [th .. one (1< .....1.)[ . or broth"-'''''r, I" """t co .... h"",~"" . the opl"",ition i. oot ".. reI-,' gumnuti.c.1 but rei"" to "'t u:oJ ",xual .ntith""" , ReLuions of opre.it« . " ...,.t
b
""lelf<m.u •• horiotln",rch.nt • • nd p.anll.l, 'lKh word> " mil<-me"h.nt . nd harlot -f.m.u• . 1I'.:oJ... find ""Iu.",,,, of word> rep"",nti"s differeotsis", with id.nti"I .ign ifi
'PP<"

W<"" ("",l
"The lim ite.l "'OP< ofth. "ory highl ight> til< rol< of yet . nother li"' .. ry 00'''<. whkh ~ til< u>< of woN-root< with double or multiple "",. "ing<, Thu>. fo r ill>t'"'" the A"""'K root SRI 'P[,<"" Otl(. to n""n - begin; i"

the ",n"'lK' "the girl btory. """,",,~r. "",«"t ;,l1y diff... "t. It doe. oot ,"m fro m the doubl. n""nins of the root ~..,]f but from the "",tapbor.,a! us< of the H.br<'W \'erb "koow: b<'W E,..,. hi, "..if.,· which

",""'ne.

I di""", b to th.I"",1of «n"I>(,"" 00'" must ~r" be taken 01 til< ",ntenc<",,",urring in the o!"'nins.p;,oo." Th.opt, who "'..,,, taken " pt""'; ".. ithoot """ reinting out th, s<xua! diff",,",« be",,«" them. In the ~ r" "'tion of the plot they >till remi,n unite.l- "",~" tat.n c. pti",,; n,mely. bath togother. oot the .. " of this ... ""ne. "poi<' the fir>! diff",,"« I>< ...... n th.m. Oll< ""I< . nd oo. l.mal •. f ro m he .. on. the tight for m of tb< ')1'Ia':1k "roctu ... < officer• • oJ th" [child[ too"" offiw," Altbaugh thHon""t! of thi, .. """" duifphot '.>eh Oll< 1.11 to. diff.",,,t offiw, the offi" .. ,re DOt d iffmnti oted or ch".><:"ri2«l in .ny

."he,.

sp«ific w. y >0 th .. the m,in di"'lKt ion betw<e" the ,,.,, ,hildre" of ,h. pr"" i. ",II on. of g.nder, From h.", on. tl>
n", ",n1<",. "Thi, [olfk,,] w,n' 10 , barlo~

,,>
g.<'' ' her ,h. n,,", in

iI"''''

,h. f.mal, in p"Y""'n', ,nd 'hi< [office,] ~~n' '0. mold 10 • buyer of 'he oppoo;" .. x, In ,he 'l'..ooe wh"" bro' her ,nd ";';1
""l"""'" of ' h"", '~rb>. •• j, common in ,h. pro", of fol, n,,,,,ive> Ibm oot only ,be,,), "dod . .. d<>S
"'" the de" dilfer-

."'. ""'ween ,be >.lbling>' only ,he girl begin' '0 " Y, in ",conl' j}{' with the mlturn perc ,h,« follow£ ""'hy ore you crying! , . , 1','110 i. you, foth,, > ... WI.. ", Jid you liv", , , , In which on>owyou , . . !" n", qu,",toollS. beginning ",;,h . ~.n",1 id.ntin... ion ,hrough. Io.:"ion

of the

oJd"". ,nd up 10 tbe body, build up, d)1lmlOc re>"ry "ory, where w, mffi~ from zero u.o,,'''-lg< to . t two ..., ;KIion> e",h 0"'" of 'h, m perfo,m. eJ
.1>" •

"par",I)" h. UfICO"''' ,nd i, "'f'O"d . nd ill. """ imm,diately ,fte""".rd,, the ilI,red ,,'ivity of """,&"i'ion tale. pl",., th." th"", «1 • • • ,nd w<po." Th.

.'.f",

"hoi. sequence i. bound together ,nd in"n~oo the ..n.. of on ''''''' iubl. c",,'rophe by ,,,,,om of 'he "one . notber" coIIStnK', which ,," .. . conO<xt.atoOil be'_n ,be .nd of the >«]""nce or re.:ognition .. tiviti", , oJ 'he beginning of physOc' ] (onloet . merg.. from tbe _II .. from the coo"", , Tbe wOld "'mbraced" i. not con"",,«1 to ,be pr<'Yiou. 0'"' through 'he "'nd " conjunc,ion, . 00 thu, ma rko the be~ i nn i og of • new .. ri« of :octiollS. Th,

')11"' "

""ler",,

conclud ing of 'he "ory- "un, i] th.i,
'he High f'rle,,; . 00 ,he d rde flOW (I=> with the united d."."ure of thm ..,w,., cont>«1ong brother . nd .i>te., man ,nd ",,,nun, in life and death. let U>!>OW con~de, the ""''''g'' ".n<miued in th, "ory', "ngu. ge. Th, opening ",m . up in • f,w wo.d. m,ny p."" ding droum,"n,,,,.nd hint> to othe", n.. 'ext du ... ion i. h ighly compr"""" relot i", 1o the du,.-

"orr

,i.on," The protag<>nim are n"'''hOned right " the I>lorie;, .peeial impo"""'" i, .. tached to the identity of tl>< pro-

"0

"goo"" ... ,h ild"n of tl>< High f'rle>l, ""he h>d b«n .""red • pri" ikged po,ition . nd de1ioed ritual role! in ,he TempI< ",,,,i,,,, Through tl>< figurati,.. devie. known in ,laMieal popo.........!. and. f"rh.p>. ""en the ex iled p«>pl< of ISf.. I .. . wOOle. Th. pri ... , h.i,,,, b«n «iled fro m 'helr (i'y ' oo 'helr Tempi" ,nd d"P'ived of thei, IOci,,1 .nd religious .utus, n..y thereby i.ot< their .peei.l power ruedi .. e betWffn tl>< ","Orldly.nd 'he ""red, bet",,,,,n the people of hr ..1.nd the holy, Thi> .tory i. part of • ""Iuen<" of • bout the toric. l ,,,,,,.reh, ""hieh e",bie; u, to con,ide. the "ory', det.ib in ,he

'0

"or...

(onte" of the tin"", indi",,, that pr;"" t«m to hav. pr ... n·ed IOn", of

Ia""",m

thelr pri,il'g" ewn . fter the ootru<,lon of ,he Temple, The h. d order<-d that pr""ly offering. thould ron,inue, . lthough the I";"" no longer had my role, n.. pr;"" then".h... (ontinued to adhere to . ",ie, ,ode of pori'y l<'gard ing food .nd ><.uai .. litlonsh ip>, as the Talmudic .. ying ten. w: "From the d.y the Temple w.. de"royed, the pri ... , 1><""", wry pu",,' illou, .bou, them"'I, ... • (TB Kiddu,hin 7ib)," Through the pr i,,". ,hlldren, . ",-hole realm of . """'ti.on, .bout lh. boli""" of the Tempi' in Jet"",.,m and the ""mily of th, d"·.,, .. ion th .. I>< oftk .... '" in'tOOue«! through. fore ign word (",,,,riot), ""h"h b'ing. into the >lory, wool< realm of Rom.. m ilitary ."", ia t ion~ The rontrast i. sh''P''n«l ,wn furth., when we re.>d immedi ... ly .fierward that the ;old im ",11t h. rep"'",ntatiw. of pr;"t ly ,it...1 purity to the quint"""nti.1 repre",n"ti",. of defilen",nt. the harlot . nd the wine merhall

oot ..I:< • wif, th" i•• h.rIot, or profaned: neither ""'-II t""r " I:< . wornan putoW"y from ""r husband: for h. i.s OOIy to h .. God" (leviticm ,q ), "Do 001 drink wi"" or strong drink, thou, nor thy ",n, with th..." ""h,n)'lu , nte r the Tent of M«ting" (Leviti".> .0:9): "Toou sIIolt not br ing th, hore of. prollitute, or th, price of. oog, into t"" hou", of the lord thy God fur .ny ,"OW: for both th<", a", .bomin"ion to the lord thy God " Io.uteronomy 1)'19) ,

ll>e oppo>it'm bet_n defiled .",uality ,nd prie>tly purity pre",nted in this "ory io al", found in .nother Ilory .bout R. Zadok, whe", he ref"in, from "'. with. harlot I'I'«;'-Iy on the grounds that h<" . m,mber of . prie>tiy family." A comparison be,,"',",n the "riou, , ... ion, of u.mm'"I",", Rob""" indic • .." tb.t th. !I1me of the ';bling' fa'''''r in the "ory under ,on.Klmtion io R. Zadok in OIle of th, manuscript.. . nd R. Yehozad. k in

anorher. According to t"diti"", two R. Zadok.> lived in the I"'riod ,10", to the d,",uetion of the Temple: 0"" w.. . disciple of Sh..rmmai .oJ t"" other " ... ' pp'",ntly th< disciple'. g"nd",n, "'00 was ca ptured when the Temple was de>lroyed." ll>e ",ur". h.aw nor proved h.lpful in ",tabhslling the identity of th, R. Yd\()"Jak (z...dok) in th" .tory, T"" a . nother.nd turn, ito ,hiM",n into ,hat..,l. They . .. >Old for the f,,,,,, of. ha ,lot.nd for wine, ,hu, ,,,,"ing . IOnd of degr.d ing parity bffl.,...,n the boy .nd the h"Io,., f. ",,,, .oJ bet"".. n th, girl .oJ the wi"", ll>e """" combin.,ion" merdunt .nd fen .. le, harlotand m..rie, which the poonologiGol "ruO»ibil i,y of ,""u. 1 up/oiution. Quoting the ""'''' from joel, ,,-hich jo,m to£",be, t"" boy >Old for t"" h.rIot', f.vo".nd t"" girl sold fur t"" ""ine, functIOn, ... kind of .ymbolic key, ""ti ng the '0,", fOf th. renewed '!ICO..mte, bet".... n brother .nd '''ter. T"" biblic. 1 quotation tran,1""'" th• • ingl" 'phemeral ",·.nt to. &e"" ..1 level. transcending ,"" .pedJi.:: nmati ... Th ~ ". dil'«l ,on>«juetK. of the pmd igm"ic, ')"itemic ,ole that biblical play "" i'hin the " bb;nic dir<eu .... ." A diaJ«ti~al tenoon .merge> between the p<""n,1 , ... n', ~'hoo< tr,n.ietKe is emphasized through nun>erou, .ni,," d,,'ic<. in ,"" LI''''"Ii!t"'"' RoWbtih "01)'•• nd the quotat ion of th. ,~'''', Derai!> of "yIe, .tKh .. the demon",,, iw "",n, ioned . bow, point to . p
''''l>

ad;":,,,,,,,

fate, ~'hile quoting th. '~r'" indicat .. thoit the .tory actu. lly co",,,,,i,,, ••

cuitu,,1 principl. gi",n p] '..,r... of"n ",r", .. g.n''''li"" nucH >ou"', of "'''ali,'' plot< in .. bbinic li"",uf<, .. AvigJor ShiRan ha. >hown I'] d,,,,,, .. ion, .. corrooowing '<, ...... 10< )'Ou,h> from the imru'" m,"ing into which lbey had b«n tr. j>p]ly, 000 ".. ithoot con~ the plol )lroc""'~ t"'" .. .,.. .. tion Il<"'... n the ,iblin1\' I..d , to inforn.. tion g.o.ps b

<x,"'"

'hot .'er''''' ... n for the harlot to ..... " ,h.m!" Th. 'tory pre .. nl> o m",lon"'" t ....." .. it w,re, with the w,', ","'nm handling the two )'Oung"'" on I"'" ,ug', ""m] ity. T"'" girl ,," first, .00 bu .. " out 'rying, II ,,,tain pa .. I1m Ihu. ,merge> bet"""n til< init .. , i,.., of til< women, t"'" harlot in the off'prin~ <1<.1000 til< girl, ..-hose W«ping bring> the"", of th, plot to unfold. Yet th,

'wo

girl', ">] ly ,tati, onJ int rov the boy, bUI .1", "n.. , 00 uoo.dJal, b
.""bIe.

i, "' tu,lIy ,h. girl "'ho, through her on'_t>, provide. n>c", of the in'orn .. ,Jon that bu,.!> I"'" p,,-plot or b.ackgrouoo circum",,,,,,,Til< ~'u"lon turn. o".n.ibly m,lod .. m"k- o boy.oo • girl b<"",,1 ;nt",ou"",, ,nd Ih, girl bu"" into "ar~ ... mingly <>preWng ""'r virgin.u ' ''''''''y. H" onsw" '0 t"'" boy', fi t>t qu."ion f<" .. I~ h","'''''', onother r..""n for her ",rrow, linking her p
• "....11 .. ",<, • "bad truI"h' un.uiubl< to ""r .lIDding- . d"",endant of pr;"" will b< d<1iled . nd m."ied to .n ordin.ry w,'< who, for >.11 >he mm.'" n.. y not even t>.. lew. D"",,,k irony""''''''' into 'ragi, irony: ,0. girl fo .. """ "ta.1Iorb< in , n.. "i"Se to , >lav< ,0tal1y different from ""r. But tt>. true sourc< of w",rop/l< ~ ,,'hat she <10« not know, that b< i> in

r", '00 much like her, octu,illy h.. own broto.r, T"" d i..""

>h< ii mourning ",!!eo befo" ,h. 0 .... that ".ill inJ<ed hapl"'n ""'. US< of 'heir mutu!! igoo",,,,. This moment in the "ory highl ight> the . In""t ba",,1 truth tn.t , in ",-ery ,itu"ion of sorrow , nd a< in ;tore.

At th i, poin'. reaJe" m.y begin to »k to.m >< thr<>hoiJ of marriage . ndlor .. xual intmourS< without mm.' ing 'bey are ,,"-,ted, is not unk"""'n in ,0. Ii,.."u,.. of ,ntiquity. T"" n"'tif of ~bli "g n""i' ge, ind«-d only to half-,""'" 'pre'''' for in.ta""., in . work by Ron"n pI.ywright Plautu" F.pW[u,.'" 11>< h,l.m"e between hoIin= and defil<> 0. ... its nlOO'
boy', q"">tion" " " ngtry. From ""'" ""ward, to. boy', mm.'l«lge ir >hm" wi,h the "a-.I ofth«h""ter>, ~ h 1<.li", ion, " her own inner ~., From • p>J'
""''''n<>'

Iogk.II"'''p''''iv<. 'he qu«tio",-.nd-.n,,,,..,, ep'.oo. ,hows of the (Onn«lion wi,h ,h iiJhood .. . "ue;'l]",y to the individual', iden'ity and . lhli'y to cop< with p"""n' proble m~ Similar to ,0. pro«<> of .. Ifunde" .. nding, the ""lu.",< of q",,"ion, begins O"t" de .nd I• .od, inw..d: 'he dty. the ne ighoorhood, the (Ounr"d, 'he .igo on the ,ourtyard. the bro,h .., ,"" 'igo on hi, bOOy. Thi, pk'u .. "fOOJ:ly .. ",mbl.. the te. aoo h i, "".. []«I .. in .....<:bylu,·. Th< IJruti"", ikmm, whe", the bro,h ...1", identifies hii ~"
id
m,de by n""n, of qu."io", 'hrough "'hich 'h< re'&r>.nd 'he 'OO"I><., :OS ,,~ Il a. ,h • .;"", ,1«r do",r '0 <" .. i"'~. " Th. que" fo r

<"'"

iden'i'y i, of ' h, "ntrJ.! li te,,'Y ".>, . t> 'pp".nt ""nS into bro'''' .nd ,o.,,, ....~ h.>pr..d in to. 1"",,1< Io ngl1.1ge of .tor'" ' PP'"ing in ~ic MiJrashim ,nd in th< T. l mud, , ~ Words th.,

"f<"

"" .Imost ';m il" Of< ploced 10 :os to til< ,l ight d"ng' involved in the tr.",mu.. tion from 0"'" ';tuotio" '0 . no,her, m.m if." " th, lingui"i< 1e",1 in dight dung« in ottly 0"'" or two ,)'Ibble>. Th"", , m,ll (hang" in the for m of ,h. word p.arallk.! "'" .mbod". the gr""" inS knowledg' in the (our", of th< gr. d",l. inword-Ieadmg quo"t;"n" . nJ turn, ;, in'o cert.inty." n.. sh"re" chins. foc u ... 00 the word "know." which bur> the full ambiguity of ,h. root YD' (know) in bibl",,1 Hebrew, linking
ac'

"fle<'~~ activity'o 'he

""LLiI >
of th .. w<>rd, OK;]loti ng belw",n body .nd IOul, joined by .oother rendulum.>Otber po>~bI.

obi«t in ,h. ",n".«, ",,oriou> in"cpr""t;"n, th .. follow from the "",b', multiple m<.ning~ Th. mo,",,,,,,n';, from n"l. femal< (th. mol<, which .. grammat ically f.mal< in Mam, " " w
'0

'0

1<1><', thmfore, m.~ d.oote . ny on, of t""" mea ning>: "And if ",""",n • ..~re to Ole, would you know it!"- n,m'lr, ,h. mol<: or "And if ",mOO1 powbili' y ""'y be ",,,,,,what
G
opj>O>ite i<x, .... " .. t f<"urt' in "o,i<, .nd pI')~ of t"" p<,;od and the «gion, wile", 1O come doo< to the b, in" of in«it. It couk! thu. be vi.,..."j. «co,dong to tbe di«ui.lion in the previou, chapter. a< " n""if belonging to • •pt<m of ,ign. ,hmClpm within the cult ure, A, i. often ,"" co .. in Totlmudk· n"d .. shi, na".·

t i, ..... only •• Iight hint of thi, motif ",main, ber<. 11>< mot if of. ph~< I""" ,lass..", i, the ""urn of Ody»eU' (Uly»e» to !tho.. "nd the nu,,< identifying him 'hrough • " ..... In the story of the . iIllin!\' in &!!rb"h. tbe id
"""0

rmrr"""',,,n,

rabbinic li""'tu"" it i, ",",niht. fo, in.w\C<. in ,"" frequ<"<1.nd
i" d<>'ru< .ign .. . key to iden,ificat ion;,

"Iso. ,,,",,octeri,,ic motifin the folk·

n",,, iv< g
plot b'inging to&"'''' 'he remot< 10"".. who '''' meant to unite. the pr<>e"t >1O'y bring> tog<1her 'hoo< wbo . re ,Io", . nd not m oot .nd in • "PI')' m.on;"g< bu, in" ""gic Je... h. It th ... "", mble> ,"" fin,1e of many ball"d>. wIlich end with the lo,~r" ,","h in what .. known .. l.it"moJ. 01. in HeIl"w imag'ry, ' "Ki .. of ,",,,h,"

In ,hop'" ,60fh" fWri<>, Ari" otle di«""", """'ogni""n" (a""S".rui'i IDe!. ., uma1. d"tinguis"'" bet",... n Ie>, and more refi""";! fo rm> of this dram,,'ic device," Th. Io>.~" form of "rt'COgni'ion" ~ 'hrough a "i~bI< ',"",n, toe"" ;, ,h .. wnstrued by the po th"ru. Th< rud .. p",.. I:<. in ttoe r«ogni'ion con!tfUN by

,h. poo<1, ,h. boy re.d ... hi, by infer.""., "M. ,I>< gi,l'~ oJ,""ugh m. d. po<sibl. 'hrough • " i,ibl. ,oun, i, . clually • ron""lU< offoc.liLl,i(1n in ,h. hifi I><""",,n ,he narr.'or, ,h • ..-.0<1<',,00 ,I>< ,,"'0 ,har,,",..." A,

<,>I," lUg', ,h. text .wn . pp<m to imply th.. the boy.oo tl>< gir l dure inform . tion uOOi",1os< m.. kI. gi,'.n • • "",(h .00 SIKh." ObvioUlly, it mUll "" o",umeJ th" for id.nti fic. tion '0 I>< " oJl po"';bI •• ,h. gill mu" hOY< provided !Om' n>ore definite poin"r~ Th< ",O pb « d" ;til iron",,1 di»Jv"'''g', know ing"" dun the (h""tm in tl>< "ory, who """om< more . nd ,no", in'ima,ely mnn",'«I. 11>< ."""i"ion bet"""n t" r«ognit ion 000 the >uu. 1 union, ..-h "'h .m< rg« .. ,h. linguist" 1<>",1 in , .. . mbiguity of th. mb "to <now; 1>
""".u><

orl><" i<Xu.i1 type of knowl«lg•. N."""hel..., ,he n"""'g' of the ""r. ti", "g"ding the l""'ibility of. " 'WlI ;lC1 be""«n them ",n\Oi", ,,!uivo.:.1 throughoot, In f" t. the "n,ion I>< longing 000 the prohibition inl< .. in.. throughoot th.ir diiCour><, ".,."', pr.cluding the option of

,hei,

.. ting on thel! de.i"" Both the b ngWlg•• oo tl>< of ,h. "0,), po,nt in thi, J ir«tion, Ol",iousry, . t th. "",,, 1<>-.1 oft .. plot, the mu ltiple """n ings in the ,mbig-

')'11'"

oous ""l""no. of "nl >houlJer to 1><" 51>< I« ,,!;niztd the mol •• oo they kn.w 0"" ooother" - imply, Ii", . nd Io"'''''''t, "th.y ,,,,,,!;nized ... h other." To ,h i, Ii"ral in"< t<'>1: "H. would uncm~' the mole on
,of\Cern'n~

the ident ity of to< ki,s<', but th~ can hardly be con'trued .. . n."d ... " i, di,ploy of the boy ki,~ng h,m",lf• • nd other v<"';"n, .!"'Il out nlO re ,I<.. ly th" the ki"", "'.. , :lCtu.ally the ';'ter. TI>< printed "", .. on of L>mm'"""ns R"l,wh ,ite. the " >t" ... <xplkitly "Ying: "And when I>< ""uld ,o.. it [0' him l . nd k~. him [itl." .... mely, the moI<, the .houlder. the brother, in thi> o ,der of ex~di ng n""n ing>, from the phy~aol d lu,lcing in the" past. In the con">:! of the hi"o'iO> interpr"'''ion ",m rd> "' ith tl>< wish to rontend with an " i" ent;'1 ,rod hi>to,kal , itLUtion e .. " iling tre""ndou. >uif<' ing withoot .. nouncing the moral ,upport of , oo.:tri ... of "tribution, .lthough it 00.. ""t fuUy exlo.u>! the rne.nin~ of tl>< oct. A fu nd,n .. ",,1 f."ure of "bbinic litewu re i, ,,,,,.. led her. wm"ying, through the doubl. or multi-

ple n..... s'" mn"ined in the nm" i,,,,. th. outlone of on .ltem"i", hi"orio""l'hy to the or>< ideologk. Uy 'u PI'" rted by . oo.:trine of r'" ribution, Th, !",,,,,,,,:01 f". of the p,o"soni". fully di",1oi<> the power of m ex!"""ntial interp ..ution ofhi> to ,y, ""hkh ",fu ... to '' ''''pt the idtruction in the im.gin"ion of th. "0' ...< n","o.. . nd of thei, "ter Ii"."" .. " il l by the ,on .... "'n' ... The wo,ld of tbe p ..t 'P!"'''' to them .. one wl>< man'",. by tradng the multi pl. m.. ninll' of thi. wo, d th", .. noted, du. b. mult iplicity of m.,.n in~ in th. ph .... n&' ,h ..,"erizing the tat on d ... m int<rp""tion, wh"h i> di«u""'! in Chapter }, l" the interp""tion of one of tl>< dr.. m. Vi< are told ",rod h, Knew h i, n",ther" tI'''_"'"ti"", R"bbah 1), ILimely, he had ><x"",1 "'"'tion, "" ith h~ "lOther. Complelrity i> enh,n,ed in the ""'ybeaus< of the !oxalicn of thi ... nten«

air«,,"

in the p.... g" ...... p ",..,nong thu. being -th
0'

had provided in the cou ... tM Jialogue, . nd .. bere >tion is identiti.:"ion by ~ght, which i, It, .... d through tbe a"".. nc .. m< _ond ophOn i. ",xual union, wh;'h i, ,,,nforc<" .. ntene< to the ""l""n« of ><" , mbr ..eJ 0'"' o""ther, ond ki...eJ one anot he " ,nd wept to ,,,h otl><," TI>< .1»
'y"""ie

,,1><1<0' the id d"", lin" w ith wlut will com< I.It<,. The .. ngular male form ol thi. w,b in the ""om.;' ,~ .. ion, ,, oppwlu ..1fo ,m. th .. follow, i, puzzl ing. Thi, l<>Im would ... m to ,ugge" that, "ther than the 'iblins> koowing 0'"' another, h, kn<w h<, and id i< a . m,iI -",ai, .urn pie 01 t.ow "bbinie literatul< u«s the intensity ollin gu'" ic oppo>ition >nJ J<'o'K< tlut ,igniti.:,nt ly < ,nd ing of the "o'y i. """ked by a double """"'g<, which includ... di.d«t i",1contr ... : "until tl>OW solved b,uu" dMh ..Ie.... them from. un",n in"'h' ins i",,,!t, ,00 the "'doc ul tu,.1,ntang"'n",.t i, 1'"" ",nteJ by avoid, ng • lorbiddl here .. the ultinute ly be iot"p"'teJ .. an ,rot;' d,,,,,,,. 11'< might .. y thot the d .
prie"ly d"",.oo . "t~ i. ""u.lIy I"'no,med in the IongLUg' "''' to 0.11010 ap'.... on to thei, ye"nin1l"

.... is true of ""ny "tM' >tor;" in u,m.."t"';"", R"bboh,.oo f"rt.:ul.rly ,h. nurtyrology "0 ' ;" in ' hIS P.,bt ini.n Midra>h, ,hi. 101< aI", in .notM, ,'.,,",n in the lW>ykmion T,lmoo. T1l< in"",,,,ion be' Wffn ,ho> two

'W'"

n...... ~ .. , til< id<dogicol . oo tho. p'),
~

~ ightly

d iff",nt in tl><

told th .. ,h. ",n . oo tho> do ught .. ofR.lshm..,1 b. lli>h, we,.

,.un "pt i.... by "".., m.st,n, ",ho h>pp
. ft.. , "'hil<,

On, .. id, I hOI..,. n.. n ...... n', in tl>< .n,i", world 00 nun i. his "'l",,1 in I><. uty,.oo ,he oth .... 0<1, I hove . n.. id",,,'.nt,.od in the .",ire ",,,rid no wom.n i. her "'ltLil in lI<.u,y. T1l wed ,hem to .:.:h o,he, and ,hoI'< th, ch ild"n. T1Ie)- pla<<<m in 0"' chamber, ",1><1'< h •••n in 0"" rom,r aoo sh ••at in ano,her. H...yo.. "Am I,.

'0

pr ... t de."nJeJ from high pri .. t>, I>< wed to " 11,,,1' Aod she "'yo.. -Am I, a p';""" de",nJeJ from high prie" .. to be wed to .... ",1' And so tl>< nigh' , A. til< d. y d.r.",ned 'hou1.
".....". my R.ibj-'Ionian Talmud and th, WI'&ion in u,,",,,,,,ri,,,u Robb,," ><",,.1 d iff,,,n,... "'''''' ' otKhing 00 n"'ginai d",iI. aod >on", co",,,ning "ntcol i.. ue., Fi,,,, ,he diff,,,,n« in

"",.J.

,h. r.. I><,'. nam•. R. l.hm,,1 i. known ' 0 h,,~ belonged ' 0' pr ... tl), r.mily, and we Or< also 'old that h. """" =« """" iw, Ab"n' from ,h. TB "ory .'" n"",' of tl>< ",und, w,bol •• 00 srnt"";': de"i« • • num.wed in ,h. u,"'''''t"tUms &I< on< h,od, ,I>< TB "o'y 0p ' wo cha, .." ... · ,he iOn . 00 th, d.r.ugh",": on ' h, oth .., w. find"" iooi.iJnai cho"""iutoon of ,h.m in ,h. "," of th, .tory, TI>< ten.ion bet_n ' heir union ,nd ,ho>i, "p,,"ion

'hrough"'" , .... ""'y i, 'her desuip'""n a«1 .. ,o ... , .... merch. n, and ,h. h. rlor, h".. 011 di"'PI"'"ed. In , ....

pi...,.,

'wo

«n,r.1 ",.ne, io 'he room, ,h.ir be ....v""r i, 0101"" wmpleteJy 'ymmf ioJi,' iJual >. [""0 , .... di«"""ry .,:ell< I.d<., the "n,""n , n,u iog from tbe dram"ic iron~ of Llm,""""'" RobiMh. n" grodual prog"'" in the >equence of ~""'t""ru; from igno .. n" to knowledg' i, rer""«Ib)' a simpl' "" ...... nt:"A> the dty dtwn«! they """!lni,ed on< another." Th, encounter i, .. lf loKI<> the , rotic 'mp .... '" of Llm,"'ot"'"' RAbbah, and tbe d ... ript""n ~ ..!her flat: "th< . oo,h ,be l.ime , .. r", fro m lam.ntat""n, also found in Ll"","'ati,,",

R.bb.h, i, "mptre-d in 'h, TS " ory b I "''''1' . , .' • Th. dir«:t pt"I""ive of God ",n"mpl.tong ,be cone ret. fat, of two human being' i, thereby "IUO\'E'd fro m 'he story. Ab>ent;, 01", the tr. gic iron)" .nuiled by ' h, omn ipoten' God beholding hi, ere"ur" being destroyed'nd w""pin~, a, i, the ", knowledgn",n' <>f human impotence in the f"", of e,,«
ogy, I, is equally po"ibl<. how,,~ r, that the Pale"inian narrator poured hi • • ubtl • • rti>tic talen, .nd hi, profound p'y15 Robbolh "ory, .. well .. iu rool> in his,orical ' ook pi"". in PoI." i"e •• tIe" to the p.l""ini,n or igill.< of,be "orr in the form c\ooCludin~ il.> p»~hologic al inten.ity and i" compl<> o",>.>ag". Nor i. thi, ",ml""i",n in" nOt
.ven" ,....,

",,,,",,n,

p>ycOOlogicol ,",p,h of <'d '0 Pale"in;'" .~ ic Midr"him, On the ",me p.tg< that f<>tu"" the
'OOu' til< "'l"'n1<'" 'pp"nti<e ",1\0 committ«! • 't..gi< mi.uk<," •

true ..,""',,'" in Ati>'o"l"m termi,~ He dl"'''
,OW«! 'h< moo "-"" if<.nd hi> lend<, ., th.i, f. ,st." N,,, in th, fubyloni,n T.lmud w;th 1'...11<1 ""Ion. in 'he Pal.,tin;'," .~k Midrash "nd to emphasize idto,ical ,ulity in !'.b,i", p,io, to the destrtKt ion. G<doIyah ,o,lon poin '«I this ou, d,arly regard ing t"" .. ory about It Yolun ... n b. blhi I<.viog t"" be.ieged dty of I
'PP"" in A.,~' d,-Ro,",; lI'at~a".oo imrIm'.'",", RaMal!, whil, . oo,htructlon "Oli<>.t the end ofGlrt;n in te.. B.abylon;'n T. lmud. Alon ";..:" the p" v. l<, to, ",aI ..tic d"':liption of til< Ro"",,n conqueror>' .pproa u, til< fu.byloni.n an gle on te.. b.abn<<tory- " ",",nif." in thel ingu;"i< fOlm, the words ,nd the ",""",,,,- .nd 'he '''''''''g<> of the >tory. 'The .n.alyili iOOi
'0

.hoI..,

of p'ychologid .00 O:IeoIogic.1 """.. go. th.1t could b< ;nl'Ol\'«I in rat"""

: "I. Th< "o'y in iAm"'t"riotr. IWbi",n i. m"Ked by the «..Ion be"""",n til<", two n"'>Sage>, ""n","m.. '0 the point of opttr ,",.",n.un" P"«'w ,""i, pUlity .,' Ri
'1'1""" .. .

"""'''\:' fo llowing F"",d: -The dual ism of En>. and Thon"", drom.", om/"pp,ng of r.u,."" 11>< "ory thu, promp" u, ' 0 'hink . bou, the di"",,,,ion of guil' ,ha, F"",d • • , w, \:"""', oo .. id ..«1 ,t.< uoJ.riying foun.ution of ,t.< .n,i re

'J"t<m of cultu,,1 "",. ning<, 0"" could t.< "mp,«I '0 ,' i<w ,hi, ... story abou t tt.< guilt .nach..d to inc"', and thu, odd it to the ta'" .bou, <.i ... "pbining tt.. "',,'roph,. ,uch .. the ",;.,. of ai.m ".. , destfO)'<mg~ Yet the lingular J>OW<' of thi, ,ub,~ .. ion of the gudt p"rception ge""w«l by robbin;" lite..,u« « gord ing ,I>< d«tru<,ion of I
.,,,,,1..

" .. n. ",ho.1so "'''''' .boot rabbinic h«ratu", from, p>ychoan, ly'ic. 1 p''''I'''<'i,'e, point«l ly argu<"d that: -Rabbi, .pparently pref",«1 ",If-bl, n.. '0 the p""ibility of.n ir..,ional uni""" devoid of comJ .. iOll bttween virlue . nd goo.! fortuflt .... An 'ppr.,.c h of" .< do«>t to ,h. telling of ,he>< ' tor;'" .. hi.toric" lq;eoJ~ wh"h sh.ped the histori..1 "",nt from the p""re<'i,,, of 'he ioJi.idu. i> who liv«l through it,

""y

,uu"'t. ,ul»..", i, .. int<rp",ution. Thi, interpr! H,,"'n." in the word, of tl>< l'iYr",ba"'" on our >tory. It i, only ""tu,.1 thot. in, lit" • ..,. corpu, nam.nd habiive """>ag' ~"uld he Ht to genr« con,ider«i pan of fol\: li tewu ... 1M vole< we .'" ",p
peopI.:

poet , oJ phoo,.,ph
Thi, ",fu>ai doe, oot 'ppe ..., . n ",pI;"it ideological """"'ge in robblnic Ii«r"u ... but "'00."" c!<arly in the p>ychologic. l n.....ge, Honc<. the "ory "'~ h""" dis<". in order to ding to ,h.ir hun .. nity . nd 'heir dvilu..-

'''n. A. , w< 1000. bKk '0 ,he Iir< 'h" j>Ie in an ev of obomin.,"n . OO terror tn., "noot b< conc«l on Ib<

"""1"

1""~b;I;ly of

in1<rp<"'ing an experi,nce lying" til< fOund.,,"'" of on onden' work from It.< I"'r'l"",' i"" of p"""",-dty ",oli')', .,.. ,hu, 1«1 u, to Ib< 'tory'. m,"t 'l""ilic n",aning. Th< .tory
3

TH E GENRE CON TEXT OF FOLK NARRATIVES IN THE AGGADI C MIDRASH RIDDLES ABOUT THE WISE PEOPLE OF IERUSALHI

Wh<""" " J,,,",,,km,u ,...,u1/ I'" " chair'" I",r"mg

_ulJ I" "ff",J '" him.

_ u -_ _ ,

ON. O. TH. "~y. to id<"tify , folk nm.,iv< within th, midroshk corpus i> to pla« it 000'" .p«ihc g<"" rub rk A•• ""y of il lo" .. tong thi • • pprooch, w< will deal with, group of tal", do:.ely ";",i!.!, in genre. Til< genl'<

"1'0.>'

""1"''''':<'

con"''' '0" the I,,..,, of the .,id,.,hic text, <<<.. ing , II< rm"I\(e ",ithin th, onive, .. lly COl\«Pt... lized ,do. of folk "" .. ti", •. A qu<"ion tlut ",hoi." h.Y< con.kj,, i,. folkulrl That. being. folktale. it n\Ol;6 of ".nsliguwion .nd m.gi.:! 0.;,." the "'''''or of. legend about the m.gical lI
8<"'"

-

'0 persu.de ,h •• tid iene< . oou, its . u,h.n' ici' y! D. n B h .. 'Y'tem"",.lIy ronsidered 'ho> 'opic. H. ha, poin' e.! to ' he n"nr ";.,.,.'. on gen .... in 'he res<",h I"""ure ... nging from . perception of g.n' .... "n .. u,al " on ,h. Oil< hand. or as ,n . nal)1"'1 d.vic. ,otallydivoroe.! from ,h.... Ii' y of ...""0.. ,oJ . uJ ien« on ,h. other.' 11>< ooUOn of g.nre ha, played. highly ,ignioc.n, role in ,he .. udy of

,"'i,

.,,,,m.

folk li,,,,,ul< 'hlQughou' ,he ,hOI' life of 'hi> di.dp!i .... ' I th .. ,h. Ilf«.OC< of folk nor",i",. in ,h. Ilow of ''"'l)'I.oy .p«
v."

how.w" ,h •• inu,ion i> clearly d iff"en' , I" imm..." ..1<xist"",.. i" ' o'''r,, ,,n.;'n, natu .. , " well .. it! P'''''tK. in varied fo rm. of ""m' i '~. mmplel no compl"'. hody of folk 1,' '''' ul'< •• oJ it> "",nif.st"ion i> .It<)!;eth" nurW by incompl"'."", •• oJ fragmen..,ion, Th. stooy of fo lk

,h
li.. ",u", i~ by delini';"". ,h. iludy of . n .00"', phenom.ooo. woo.. .n' ir'ion conc"",ng the """ato,,' ,waren". of ' he ",i"enc. of folk-l i..",y gen"" could .Iso be "W . oout ,h•• u,oo .. of Mkl",h. 11>< mat" i'; fouoJ in Ll""","notrS Ro,""i1 .... m' to indic". ' hat lbe e.!i'o" of ,h. Mid"", "...,,, . ware of g.n" Jiu i n<,ion~ .nd .",n ,<sor" " '0 'h<m in ,hei, e.!i'ing,' In ,h .. chap'" w. will d i« ..... '''''' that in folk·litera,y "udie< h,,~

been d." i~e.! as folk' ..... 11>< cl.!»ic de><:'iption of folk pro« gen .... ,ugg'''e.! by tl\< G,imm broth." at the J>eg;nning of the nill<".nth century-the m)1h, the Ieg.nd, ",d 'he folkt al.- contin""" ' 0 guide ,h. Weool ... of folk li.."tu", The interp,,,,,,io",, .nd chora".ri"tion, of the gen"~ 00.,",'''' h,Y< ch. "Se.! ",cording '0 ,h. ",hola,' thtof"'-

r<'""

' i ,~

on. by wIlten'~ S'nK,u,,]iSl .dlOOl, d ..1wi,h in-dep,h SI,u" u,« of n",.ning:tlld do no','" rule, view gen", determ in."ion ... . n imporun' i"""", il«:en' .pprooch", foc", on lIO ,ra,ion.nd on ,t.. ",iSlk r<,formaoc.

of folk lo,,,,,u"" including p,ed .. di" i""ion, wn,erning ' he .pedfic con-

di,ion. of "",ra,ion, ,t.. pe""lIOlity of ,h .....""0',.00 hi.lher mu,,,,,1 rel .. iooship> ",;,h lh •• ud",n"" p'O'I'ing ,t.. divi.ion ,nto th, ... m.in ~nr'" '0 I>< ' 00 g< choic. of text> .. ,..,11 .. '0 ,h. uoo ...taooing of tt.. function, ,he fo,m, . nd ' he m'''n ing of folk n.mt iV«. ~Iy , pplOKh ' 0 gen,« in thi, wo,k m um« • continuum oHolk p'os<, "nging from folku]e '0 legeoo, which i. infollned by 'he divi,ion intrOOucN by 0"" of tl>< mo>t import.nl ",!>ol'f> of f<>lk li",rature qLU litera,u"" M"" U;,hi. ' I do 00' ",n>id,,,hethi,d wmponen ' in Grimm', triad, myth, .. . gen"" In" .. J , i, is i><>l undtood, on the on. hand, ,, . comprehensive "nK'ure of'hinking thot i"'pi,.. the v.. iou, ""p","';o ... of. gi'~n culture, i",loo>Ilg it> perc'p,lon ... group,.nd on ' he o,her hand . .. It.. • J'O""',iori w ... truct of th. moot fundam.nul .nd fo,mative of • culture'> n."" iv.,.,· Following Uilhi, ,he folkt.J., . 00 "~n more '" lh. kg.nd. i, d<scrib<J here acw,ding '0 poetic .00 fo,n ..1 cri' er ..... nd accord ing to ofl> with. J>ng '0 folkta"" " .ymbolic. 1 refl<,:t iom of the iooividtLIl', m,ntal ",.Iity f,om • v.... ty of pe'sp«1iv<~' 'The folktale oflen "''''''' to Sly!;"ic ,nd ",uctur.J de.k" that are 0 ' 110n",ntal, 'hereby wl15;,l of the fo lktal. unfold" .n i""'gin • ..,., fic ti,iou, ,ime, ju>t .. it> location u.cb

iden' ifying ,igo', Th. opening fo,mu l.. ,har.m rist" of folI:tal<> .1.., t..lp '0 COIII"<)' thei, J i,"'"e from ",.l i'Y' - M,ny. m.ny "S'" be-,x>nJ the ,. in m. ny Europe. n . nd n",untain •• nd 'he "", in 0 far-. w.y land Medil
ye'"

Ji ... nt p!.ces S<'''''' a. the Ioc.. ion of th. folk .. I., ""h .. Arab .. or lod" in Europ<,n folk.. les. ThO. di • ..,,,, .n.bIes tl>< "",,"or, .. ",.11 •• th, ,uJien«, 'hrough their Kl
with the he""" of tl>< folk''''', '0 "'I",ti.""" in qmbolic '<1m. the e,"re n", "'~nt~ both po~ 'i,~ , nd ""got i '~, ",hich alf«' tl>< pro"gon ..". Thu~ motifs of ",", m•• ioIen« 0' ul'oCom~ntion.al form, of ....,.Ii,y, mo;tly ",ithin the f, mily, or. qui"