Liz Warren | Storyteller

The Name of the Helper by Laura Rutherford

Rumpelstiltskin D.L. Ashlilman defines Rumplestiltskin as belonging to the tale type known as the Name of the Helper. It is the game of “guess my name” that is the important characteristic for these tales. Many cultural traditions hold that to know someone’s name is akin to having power over them and this is reflected in these stories. An interesting article about Tom Tit Tot, a variant of Rumplestiltskin is at the link below. Reflective of the times in which it was written, the author manages to denigrate every culture not represented in the modern era!  Clodd, Edward. Tom Tit Tot: An Essay on Savage Philosophy in Folk-Tale. London: Duckworth and Co. 1898.

 

 

3 responses to “The Name of the Helper by Laura Rutherford”

  1. Sharon Gilbert Avatar
    Sharon Gilbert

    What an interesting bit of insight–it does go to show that there is much we as modern people will never truly understand about the thought process of people who lived long ago. However, there is something we all understand through the stories that survived.

    Reply
  2. Kathy Eastman Avatar
    Kathy Eastman

    I agree with Sharon about the thought process of people across generations and the enduring nature of tales. We discussed that last night in class.
    Individuals in many cultures, including some Native American, have a “public” name and a private or ceremonial name. This is a living testimony to the enduring themes of many folktales.

    Reply
  3. Mark Compton Avatar
    Mark Compton

    There is an interesting quote from Andrew Lang addressing ‘savage’ people and folktales: “For the roots of stories, we must look, not in the clouds but upon the earth, not in the various aspects of nature but in the daily occurrences and surroundings, in the current opinions and ideas of savage life.”

    Reply

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