Date of Award
9-2010
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Anthropology
Supervisor
John Colarusso
Language
English
Abstract
This thesis seeks to clarify the often confused understanding of the Serbo-Croatian vila and elucidate her position within the archaic South Slavic world view. Through a survey of her functional traits within the Serbo-Croatian epics, the argument presented here attempts to typify her actions in the epic sphere, and weigh those against her conception in the folkloric sphere, making a case for the understanding and study of the vila as one distinct figure divided into two typological facets - one mythological in nature, the other a product of folk custom. From there the thesis explores a comparative Indo-European mythological study of the isolated epic functions of the vila, in order to properly posit her among similar analogues in the Indo-European myth system.
Recommended Citation
Juric, Dorian, "Treatise on the South Slavic Vila" (2010). Open Access Dissertations and Theses. Paper 4533.
http://digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca/opendissertations/4533
McMaster University Library