DBK Alphabetical Directory/Index to Thesaurus of Themes
including their Narrative Units and Aspects
This directory indexes all the narrative Themes, their descriptions, and their contents in order to guide the user to appropriate themes used in classifying the ballad plot elements. It is ordered alphabetically, or you can use the usual "FIND" function of your browser to search the directory.html .
The numbers references the relatively arbitrary Theme numbers in the thesaurus, which are hierarchical within their category: Theme 180 refers to the offer or request for work while Theme 280 refers the success or problems attending an existing occupational commitment. The Roles and Relationships are "numbered" alphabetically (L for "Lovers", F for "Family," "V" for "Victims, and their oppressors and their helpers," etc.)
While the ballads have been classified and indexed according to their themes and roles, it is sometimes useful to look for more particular details.
Many of these details have found expression in the Narrative Units, indicated here by decimal extensions of the Theme. Theme 620, for instance, has to do with (naturally occurring) accidents and catastrophes. 620.1 refers to communal catastrophes and 620.2 refers to individual accidents — 620.1 is the flood while 620.2 is the occupational accident. All these can be found under the Theme 620 (see the pull-down menus), but the more narrow instances can be accessed directly with an "Advanced Search" for the Narrative Unit, e.g., 620.2. The two types of search can be combined.
In similar fashion, "Aspects" are indicated by an "a" or "b": it matters considerably whether a common expectation is failed (Theme 245.a "Betrayal") or fulfilled (245.b "Loyalty"). Ballads being ballads, the "a" aspect is usually negative (betrayal as 245.a) while "b" is usually positive (loyalty as 245.b). Although any Theme or Narrative Unit can combine with any Aspect, they do logically interact: Theme 245 can have to do with hospitality: 245.3. That hospitality (245.3) can be denied (245.a) or fulfilled (245.3 as well as 245.b). Upon occasion you will find abbreviated references like "245a.3" which simply mean that both "245.a" and "245.3" are referenced, and the ballad can be found under either classification.
In some instances, it is appropriate to co-classify a single action or circumstance with more than one Theme, as in betrayal (245.b) plus either unsuccessful courtship (110.b) or violation of family responsibilities (220.b). That is indicated with a plus-sign (245.b + 110.b) in the Directory. False accusation is given as "440.2 + 910," being an accusation (910) which is a lie (440.2), the ballad being retrievable using either or both of the Themes.
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