Abstract
In ‘Rehearsing the Future in the Folktale’ (New York Folklore, 1985), Bill Nicolaisen considers notions of absentation, unpreparedness, and fear in the lives of folktale protagonists. He examines how these states, as well as more plot-related obstacles, can and must be overcome by carefully rehearsing the future. Before discussing how the future relates to folktale protagonists, Bill briefly discusses the future and ‘us’, that is, people of everyday life. Though far removed from the ahistorical, acartographical worlds of the folktale, Bill indicates that considering and rehearsing the future is also key to our lives, as we confront and attempt to cope with the obstacles and opportunities ahead. For immigrants around the world, notions of the future are paramount to the stories they tell about their lives, their fears, and their aspirations. Framing my discussion on Bill’s investigations into time and space, I will discuss how and why the future is narrated and rehearsed in the personal-experience narratives of immigrants to Scotland.
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Unpublished - 26 Jul 2017 |
Event | W. F. H. Nicolaisen Memorial Symposium - Aberdeen, United Kingdom Duration: 24 Jul 2017 → 27 Jul 2017 https://www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/research-projects/w-f-h-nicolaisen-memorial-symposium |
Conference
Conference | W. F. H. Nicolaisen Memorial Symposium |
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Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
City | Aberdeen |
Period | 24/07/17 → 27/07/17 |
Internet address |
Keywords
- temporality
- migration