‘바보 설화’와 야생의 사고: <바보사위>, <떡보와 사신>, <무식쟁이 편지> 설화를 중심으로

초록

This study explores the significance of the ‘fool’ figure in Korean folktales, focusing on ‘The Foolish Son-in-law’, ‘Tteokbo and the Envoy’, and ‘The Letter of the Ignorant’, within the context of the clash between the concrete and the abstract. In The Foolish Son-in-law, the protagonist’s forgetting and renaming of foods illustrates the operation of sensory intuition. In Tteokbo and the Envoy, Tteokbo challenges abstract discourse and authority by employing the concrete experience of rice cakes and bodily gestures to generate new systems of meaning. The Letter of the Ignorant shows that characters who cannot read or write use concrete signs to manage conflicts and relationships, demonstrating that sophisticated communication is possible beyond literacy. The fools in these tales remain anchored in the concrete world, unable to assimilate into new social orders, yet they reveal their creativity by solving problems with limited resources. Thus, fool tales reflect the confusion and tension experienced during periods of cultural transition. By presenting moments of folly and anxiety that anyone might encounter, these narratives provide audiences with opportunities for projection and empathy. Moreover, the struggles of the fools indicate that ‘savage mind’ grounded in sensory experience retains relevance even in today’s information-driven society. This study highlights how the figure of the fool captures human experience during cultural shifts and suggests the enduring significance of sensory cognition.

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