The good, the bad and the ugly in Xhosa iintsomi

Abstract

The character roles in Xhosa folk-tales or iintsomi are discussed. The characters are characterized mainly through action and it follows that character becomes a key structural element, functioning mainly on the symbolic or metaphorical level. The characters become allegorical types, representing either the Good or the Bad in man. Other characterization techniques found in the iintsomi such as characterization through naming and phraseology are also touched upon. The ambiguous role of some characters is also highlighted.