This article examines the profound and symbiotic relationship between classical literature and folklore, arguing that the two traditions are not distinct but rather exist on a fluid continuum of narrative exchange. While often positioned in a hierarchical dichotomy—classical literature as "high" culture and folklore as "low" or "popular" culture—a closer analysis reveals a continuous cycle of influence. The article employs the IMRAD structure to investigate this connection. The Introduction establishes the theoretical framework and defines key terms. The Methods section outlines the comparative textual analysis and motif-tracking methodology used to trace folkloric elements within classical texts. The Results section presents a tripartite analysis: first, it explores how foundational works of classical literature, such as Homer's epics, are deeply rooted in pre-existing oral folk traditions; second, it analyzes how later literary authors like Ovid and Chaucer consciously appropriated and refined folk motifs, structuring them into sophisticated literary forms; and third, it demonstrates how these literary works, in turn, feedback into and enrich the living stream of oral folklore, creating a recursive cycle. The Discussion contextualizes these findings, emphasizing that the transformation of folk material into literature represents not an act of supersession but one of preservation and re-contextualization, ensuring the survival and continued relevance of archetypal narratives. The article concludes that the boundary between classical literature and folklore is porous, and their enduring connection is fundamental to understanding the evolution of Western narrative tradition.

Classical Literature, Folklore, Oral Tradition

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