The History of the Seven Wise Mistrisses of Rome (1663) as Children’s Literature: Textual History, Gender and Folktale Motifs

This article analyses The History of the Seven Wise Mistrisses of Rome, attributed to Thomas Howard, and traditionally underrated by literary critics and historians as a mere imitation of the Seven Sages, despite its enormous success. The early parts examine the literary and editorial relationship with its source text, and Howard’s prefatory “Epistle.” The latter parts concentrate on the frame story and the fifteen exemplary tales. Special attention is drawn to the gender/feminist issues in the original extension of the frame story, and to the folktale motifs displayed in this compilation, stylistically and thematically conceived to help children improve their reading competence.

KEBERAGAMAN MOTIF DALAM CERITA RAKYAT ULAR RENGGIONG DAN PUTRI GUNUNG LABU DARI BELITUNG TIMUR: ANALISIS MOTIF MODEL STITH THOMPSON

Kabupaten Belitung Timur yang masuk ke wilayah Provinsi Kepulauan Bangka Belitung me miliki kekayaan budaya sastra lisan, khususnya cerita rakyat yang belum banyak dikaji. Selain cerita rakyat, wilayah ini juga kaya akan pantun, syair, mantra, juga peribahasa. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan keberagaman motif cerita rakyat dalam dua legenda, yakni “Ular Renggiong” dan “Putri Gunung Labu” berdasarkan klasifikasi Motif Indeks Stith Thompson. Kajian ini termasuk ke dalam jenis penelitian kualitatif. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif analisis. Kedua cerita menggambarkan kondisi sosial budaya masyarakat Melayu Belitung yang masih sangat kental menjaga tradisi dan adat dalam kehidupan. Setelah dianalisis, didapatkan hasil cerita “Ular Renggiong” memiliki sembilan motif, sementara “Putri Gunung Labu” memiliki 15 motif. Hal ini menandakan keberagaman motif cerita rakyat yang ada di wilayah Belitung Timur. East Belitung Regency in Bangka Belitung Province has it cultural richness includes diversity in anything that has to do with how people live. This region has it oral literary culture, especially folklore like folktale, pantun, syair, mantras, as well as proverbs. This study is focused on the motifs in the folktale. This research aimed to describe the motifs of the folktale "Ular Renggiong" and "Putri Gunung Labu" based on Thompson motif index classification. This research is a qualitative research using descriptive analysis method. Both folktale showed the socio-cultural conditions of the Belitung’s people who are still very strong in maintaining traditions and customs in life. The story of "Ular Renggiong" has 9 motives while "Putri Gunung Labu" has 15 motifs based on the Thompson Index Motif theory. This indicates the diversity of folktale motifs in the East Belitung region.