Across Culture: A Comparative Thematic Analysis of German Fairy Tales and Sinhala Folk Stories

Fairy tales and folk stories are essential to cultural heritage, transmitting values, norms, and social structures across generations. This study conducts a comparative thematic analysis of German fairy tales and Sinhala folk stories, focusing on their portrayals of gender, power, and justice. The research examines selected German fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm collection, such as Cinderella and Snow White, alongside Sinhala folk stories, particularly those featuring the trickster figure Andare. A qualitative literary analysis was employed to identify recurring themes and ideological structures within these narratives. The findings reveal that German fairy tales reinforce traditional gender roles, often portraying women as passive and dependent on male intervention, while men are characterised by strength and authority. Power in these tales is typically hierarchical and inherited, with justice framed as an inflexible system of moral consequences. In contrast, Sinhala folk stories, especially those centred around Andare, subvert authority through humour and satire, depicting power as flexible and justice as rehabilitative rather than punishing. This contrast highlights how different cultures conceptualise morality and social order. Additionally, the study emphasises the role of oral tradition in shaping the evolution of these narratives, demonstrating how cultural context influences storytelling conventions. By bridging two distinct folklore traditions, this research underscores both the universal and culturally specific aspects of fairy tales and folk stories. The study concludes that while both traditions use folklore to reinforce or challenge social norms, Sinhala folk stories offer a more fluid and fair vision of power and justice. These insights contribute to broader discussions on cross-cultural storytelling and its role in shaping perceptions of gender and authority. Future research could explore how these narratives evolve in contemporary retellings, influencing modern social and literary discourses.