The Boundaries Between Folktale and Legend: «The Devil as Bridge Builder» in Catalan Tradition

Abstract

The theme of the devil offering to build a bridge in one night in exchange for the soul of the victim has a considerable presence in folk narrative and is widespread internationally. An analysis of the 27 Catalan versions featuring «the devil as bridge builder» as their protagonist shows that these stories vary in nature and can be presented in the form of legend, folktale or etiological story.