Abstract:
This thesis aims to study the characteristic and the role of crocodile in Thai tales. The researcher collected 107 stories from oral and literary versions, which are 152 crocodiles. It is found that the crocodile characters appear in 9 forms of Thai tales which are myth, religious tale, fable, fairy tale, novella, legend, explanatory tale, animal tale, and Jest. The crocodile characters are either natural crocodiles or supernatural ones. The natural crocodiles have all external appearances like the ordinary ones and are always bad characters. On the other hand, the supernatural crocodiles have external appearances, births and magic powers that are different from those of the ordinary crocodiles. The supernatural crocodiles in Thai tales are always good characters. The crocodile character in Thai tales must be categorized in one of the four groups which are a protagonist, an antagonist, a helper, and a supporting character. Crocodile characters have 6 roles that are a destroyer, a protector, a protagonist helper, a carrier, a traditional bearer, and an instructor. It is found that the crocodile characters always be a destroyer and a protector, that are opposite roles but cause from a crocodile's fear too. Thai tales make at least 2 symbols of crocodile that are a symbol of the sacred animal and a symbol of the stingy person who never give charity.