Paradigm of the Number "Three" in Western Folk Narrative
Profound culture is hidden in numbers,of which the number"three"especially has abundant connotation."Three"is viewed as a standard or an extreme in amount or degree.It also refers to a sort of widely-recognized rule or scale."Three"is sancti-fied with magic generating power usually in form of three-set or three-unit.Frequently"three"appears in Western folk literature with its narrative functions,which defines the rhythm of tale and presents superiority principle.This way of narrative has been a paradigm or motif in Western folk literature.
Western folk narrativethe number"three"paradigmmysterious powernarrative rhythmsuperiority principle
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