Manifestation of Fear in Lithuanian Cultural Consciousness: Philosophical Analysis of Myths and Fairy Tales Cover Image

Baimės Apraiškos Lietuvių Kultūrinėje Sąmonėje: Mitų Ir Stebuklinių Pasakų Filosofinė Analizė
Manifestation of Fear in Lithuanian Cultural Consciousness: Philosophical Analysis of Myths and Fairy Tales

Author(s): Aušra Malkevičiūtė
Subject(s): Metaphysics, Social Philosophy, Ethnohistory, Existentialism, Sociology of Culture
Published by: Visuomeninė organizacija »LOGOS«
Keywords: Lithuanian myths and fairy tales; symbols; cosmological; existential and moral fears;

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses cosmological, existential, and moral kinds of fear as expressed in the plots of Lithuanian myths and fairy tales as well as in the symbols they employed. The interpretation of the above is based on the works of Lithuanian historians, ethnographers, and cultural writers as well as H. Biedermann‘s ‘New Dictionary of Symbolism’. Cosmological fears reflect the ancient culture people’s striving for survival, setting up in a specific territory, and establishing a certain order that provides all kinds of needed security. Existential and moral fears are related to the human pursuit of personal happiness. Fear manifests itself through the outer and inner factors that prevent one from achieving the above aims. The article presents an analysis which provides a deeper insight into the prevailing sets of values and behavior models of the Lithuanian national mentality.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 76
  • Page Range: 168-181
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Lithuanian