- Adawia J. Jamasali
- Sulu State College, Jolo, Sulu, Philippines
This study explores five selected folktales from the Sama Pangutaran tribe, known for their rich oral traditions, superstitious beliefs, and strict adherence to cultural norms. The folktales examined are Tuwan Putlih Bunga Pakkan, Tuwan Putlih Suhadi, Binantuk, Mambang Dalimah, and Itin. The first two stories follow sisters Bunga Pakkan and Suhadi, who are separated by a witch-like creature, the “Pugut,” and later reunited with their prince husbands. Binantuk tells of a man and a heavenly princess whose marriage is affected by a spell, leading to separation and eventual reconciliation. Mambang Dalimah narrates the story of a prince in disguise whose marriage is disrupted by jealousy but ends in forgiveness. Itin recounts how a young boy is saved by his clever brother from a man-eating eagle. These tales reflect common folkloric themes like love, revenge, and reunion, similar to well-known stories like Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and The Frog Prince. Vladimir Propp’s theory of narrative functions and Axel Olrik’s epic laws of folk narrative served as the study’s theoretical frameworks, guiding the structural and thematic analysis. A descriptive research design was utilized to examine the narrative content and its cultural significance. This paper contributes to preserving Sama’s cultural heritage and seeks to bring greater awareness to the richness of Sama’s storytelling. By analyzing these folktales through established literary theories, the study highlights the universality and uniqueness of the Sama people’s narrative traditions.