DENOTATION AND CONNOTATION OF ALLEGORY IN SANGKURIANG FOLKLORE

Abstrak

This study explores the denotative and connotative meanings of allegory in the Sangkuriang folklore, a well-known Sundanese legend from Indonesia. The analysis aims to uncover how literal elements in the story such as the characters, setting, and events served as allegorical representations of cultural, moral, and philosophical values embedded within Sundanese society. This study employs a qualitative descriptive method with a semiotic approach to analyze the denotation and connotation of allegorical elements in the Sangkuriang folklore using a semiotic approach grounded in Barthes' theory. The research identifies how the surface meanings (denotations) of the narrative components are linked to deeper symbolic meanings (connotations). The incestuous relationship between Sangkuriang and Dayang Sumbi is read as an allegory of human error and the consequences of ignorance. The study highlights how traditional folklore uses allegorical structure not merely for storytelling but for transmitting values and worldviews across generations. Through this study, Sangkuriang is revealed not only as a myth of origin but also as a repository of collective consciousness, where mythic imagination and moral teachings intertwine. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of Indonesian folklore and its function as a cultural semiotic system.

Kata kunci

• Sangkuriang
• allegory
• connotation
• denotation