Academicus International Scientific Journal Gabor Vasmatics info@academicus.edu.al mEDRA 1 1 20260725 01

06 10.7336/academicus.2026.34.07 https://academicus.edu.al/nr34/Academicus-MMXXVI-34-106-136.html 1 01 URL https://academicus.edu.al AA AA02 Academicus International Scientific Journal (official website) 2 01 URL https://academicus.edu.al/nr34/references/Academicus-MMXXVI-34-106-136.html AF AF05 References Link 3 01 URL https://academicus.edu.al/nr34/Academicus-MMXXVI-34-106-136.html AA AA03 Abstract 4 01 URL https://academicus.edu.al/nr34/Academicus-MMXXVI-34-106-136.pdf AD AD03 Full Text (PDF) 5 01 e-mail mailto:info@academicus.edu.al AG AG02 E-Commerce Printed Format (info@academicus.edu.al) 6 01 URL https://academicus.edu.al/images/covers/cover-34.jpg AA AA04 Front cover image 7 02 URL https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ AA AA14 Rights and Licences 8 02 URL https://plu.mx/plum/a/?doi=10.7336/academicus.2026.34.07 AF AF06 PlumX Metrix https://academicus.edu.al/nr34/Academicus-MMXXVI-34-106-136.html https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Academicus 01 Academicus International Scientific Journal AL 07 20793715 JB 07 23091088 JD 34 01 202601 10 106 136 31 1 A01 21 https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2553-5332 Edlira Çerkezi PhD Faculty of Human Sciences, University “Ismail Qemali”, Albania 2 A01 21 https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7426-7123 Ana Çano PhD Candidate Faculty of Human Sciences, University “Ismail Qemali”, Albania 01 eng 20 Albanian fairy tales 20 mythological figures 20 folklore 20 cultural identity 20 symbolism 01 Albanian fairy tales constitute one of the richest components of the country’s oral tradition, preserving an extensive corpus of mythological beliefs, symbolic representations and cultural values transmitted across generations. Mythological figures occupy a central place within these narratives, functioning not only as fantastic beings but also as symbolic expressions of the Albanian worldview, collective memory, and traditional cosmology. This study examines the representation, narrative functions, and cultural significance of mythological figures in Albanian fairy tales through a qualitative and interpretative approach. The research is based on the analysis of representative folklore texts drawn from the principal collections of Albanian fairy tales, complemented by the theoretical contributions of leading Albanian and international scholars of folklore and mythology. The analysis combines descriptive, comparative, and myth-critical perspectives to investigate the symbolic roles of figures such as: Kuçedra, Dragoi, Ora, Zana, Shtriga, Lugati, Vitore, Xhindet (mythological figures in Albanian fairy tales and other supernatural beings). The findings demonstrate that these mythological characters perform multiple narrative and symbolic functions. They embody the opposition between constructive and destructive forces, mediate relationships between the human and supernatural worlds, and preserve ancient beliefs concerning protection, destiny, fertility, justice, and moral order. Although Albanian fairy tales share numerous mythological motifs with other Balkan and European traditions, they also preserve distinctive cultural characteristics that reflect the historical development of Albanian society and its unique mythological imagination. The study argues that mythological figures should be understood not merely as fantastic literary elements but as fundamental components of Albania’s intangible cultural heritage. By integrating folkloristic, literary, and mythological perspectives, this research contributes to a broader understanding of the symbolic universe of Albanian fairy tales and highlights their significance within the wider context of European folklore studies. 202601 2026 Academicus