Narrative motifs in Indonesia and Philippines folktales: A comparative literature study

This study analyzes the transformation of narrative motifs in Indonesian and Philippine folktales and explores the role of cultural localization in shaping the identity of each tale. It employs a qualitative approach grounded in comparative literature methods. The data consist of two Indonesian–Philippine tale pairs: Kura-Kura dan Monyet Rakus from Indonesia and The Monkey and the Turtle from the Philippines; and Si Monyet dan Seekor Buaya from Indonesia and The Monkey and the Crocodile from the Philippines. These tales were collected through library research and the read-and-note technique, then analyzed comparatively concerning the similarities, differences, and transformations of their narrative motifs.  The findings show that both folktale traditions preserve the same narrative motifs as part of the Austronesian oral cultural heritage. Nevertheless, they differ in conflict, characterization, story resolution, and moral values. Cultural localization produces distinct identities: Indonesian tales emphasize hard work, social harmony, and character education through a linear plot, whereas Philippine tales emphasize cleverness through an episodic plot. These findings indicate that shared narrative motifs do not constitute imitation but result from cultural adaptation that shapes the local identity of each folktale tradition. This study enriches comparative literary scholarship by clarifying of narrative motifs transform as a process of cultural identity formation on the folktales of kindred societies in Southeast Asia.