Mr. Elizabeth, Island Storyteller: Symbol and Creolization in Indian Ocean Folktales

Abstract

Abstract In the island of Réunion, European folktales are told by the poor white population. Two examples of specific tales are examined here: the first, a version of an internationally known tale type, "The Smith Outwits the Devil" (AT 330), narrated by Mr. Elizabeth as "The Cardplayer," illustrates local meanings, which arise from the teller’s social position, as well as the region’s processes of cultural creolization; the second narrated tale, "Four Rose Blossoms," also known as "The Three Golden Sons" (AT 707), yields similar regional insights. Although folklore research in Réunion has been sporadic, this article demonstrates the rich potential for tale type research there.