Shapeshifting and cultural values in Lutung Kasarung and the black bull of Norroway

Qonitatin, Rofifah (2026) Shapeshifting and cultural values in Lutung Kasarung and the black bull of Norroway. Sarjana thesis, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung.

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Abstract

Shapeshifting is a common motif in folklore that functions not merely as a narrative device but as a medium for conveying cultural values, moral teachings, and social ideologies. This research aims to analyze the cultural values reflected through the representation of shapeshifting in Lutung Kasarung and The Black Bull of Norroway by examining both their similarities and differences. The focus of this study lies in understanding how cultural contexts influence the meaning, function, and social significance of transformation in each folktale. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method with a comparative literature approach. The primary data are taken from Loetoeng Kasaroeng (Pleyte, 1910) and The Black Bull of Norroway (Steel, 1999), while secondary data are obtained from books and scholarly journals related to folklore, mythology, and cultural studies. The findings reveal that shapeshifting in Lutung Kasarung reflects cultural values such as obedience to divine authority, patience and endurance in facing trials, humility and self-sacrifice, and moral purification through transformation, which are deeply rooted in Sundanese worldview and collective ethics. Meanwhile, The Black Bull of Norroway emphasizes human agency and free will, endurance through journeys of trials, physical and mental resilience, and the restoration of identity as a reward for perseverance and ethical action, reflecting Northern European cultural values that highlight individual agency and moral responsibility. Despite these differences, both folktales share similarities in portraying shapeshifting as a transformative process that tests moral character and leads to personal and social restoration. The study concludes that shapeshifting serves as a culturally constructed symbol through which societies articulate moral ideals, social roles, and beliefs about suffering, endurance, and reward. Therefore, this research demonstrates that folklore remains a significant cultural medium for understanding how different societies conceptualize transformation, morality, and identity across cultural boundaries.

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