Extract

Anamarija Marinović

Introduction

This article intends to conduct a brief analysis of the occurrence, usage and function of proverbs in Serbian and Portuguese folk tales. We decided to approach these specific two cultures because over the course of our Master's and Doctoral studies we have been developing comparative research on Portuguese and Serbian folk literature. The theme of our Master's dissertation presented an overview of the characters of men, women and children in Portuguese and Serbian short folk stories.

During the course of our research work we also participated at the Second, Third and Fourth Interdisciplinary Colloquia on Proverbs in Tavira (Portugal), so we can affirm that folklore and proverbial material are familiar to us and that is one of the reasons for having chosen this specific topic to write about.

In this paper we will discuss the role of women in preserving memories, traditions, skills and knowledge that in each community was to be transmitted to younger generations. By telling and retelling folk stories, legends, fables and myths, riddles and proverbs mothers, grandmothers and sisters also transmitted moral values and models of behavior that were desirable and acceptable in the society where they lived, with the intention of creating an understanding about what is correct and what is not, what is a virtue and what is a sin. This notably didactic component of folk tales and proverbs has its own purpose: To educate children and the young in the...