Comparisons of Kurdish and Grimm Brothers tales in terms of motifs

In this study, four fairy tales of Grimm brothers and four Kurdish tales in Kurmanci dialect have been compared. The tales in both languages have been compared according to Stith Thompson's motif index list. In comparing part of this treatise, first summary of the fairy tales have been written and after that comparison of the same and different motives of the fairy tales have been done following the list order. As result of the comparison, it could be seen that the fairy tales of both nations are very similar to each other. With this study, fairy tales's universal feature has been proved once again. And with this work, it has became clear that Kurdish tales are very reach in term of motifs. In the first part of our study, definition of folklore, fairy tale, motif, formal and type concepts have been explained terminologically. In continuation, ideas about the classification of the fairy tales, views on the sources of fairy tales and methods of examining fairytale are shared. In second part, information given about Grimm brothers' life and their work and about history of Kurdish fairy tales. And in third part the fairy tales have been compared according to the motifs. Key words Fairy tale, Comparison, Grimm Brothers, Motif, Formal, Stith Thompson