Thesis is focused on motifs of taboo behavior in Czech prosaic folklore. The objective of this work was to depict how the motifs participate in folktales and legends, compare these motifs, describe their change in time and space and possible overlaps into to social reality. In the thesis is used as a method the textological analysis of narrative motifs in the primary sources of folklore narratives from the mid 19th century to the present. In summary are presented possible function of taboo in folklore narratives, relation of folklore and social reality based on taboo and variations in understanting a taboo phenomen in time.

(English) Ph.D. Thesis Contemporary Legend and Rumour in the Czech Republic. Origin, Genesis and Social and Cultural Function of Domestic Urban Folklore in International Context Petr Janeček Presented study analyzes character, origin, genesis and social and cultural functions of specific type of prosaic oral narratives transmitted in contemporary oral and non-oral tradition on territory of the Czech Republic. Main attention is given to realistic narratives with primary informative and entertaining function, which are usually presented by their tellers as at least potentially real story or information about actual, genuine happenings of both local and social importance, but whose variants, versions and editions simultaneously circulate over wider geographical and temporary horizon. Because of that, these narratives are labelled by international folkloristics as folklore genres of "contemporary legend" and "rumour". After overview and critical analysis of history of international studies of these two genre concepts, their terminology and genre (both formal and thematic) characteristics in international and Czech folkloristics are presented, as well as relationship of these genres to similar contemporary folklore forms, especially gossip, conspiracy theories, anecdotes and jokes, demonological...

Individually Published Czech Festive and Occasional Preachings of the End of the 17th and the First Two Thirds of the 18th Century Miloš Sládek The thesis concentrates on the area of festive and occasional homiletics in Bohemia after the Battle of White Mountain. Since the end of the 17th century, homiletics had represented the Czech leading literary genre with extraordinary influence on the masses. This influence was even strenghtened when printed preachings gradually became popular reading. The main focus of the thesis is on the questions of preparation of preaching, problematics of preaching handbooks, relationship of a preacher and his listeners, as well as the area of Classicist and conceptual preaching. The Baroque concept is described in connections with the aspect of growing author's self-esteem at that time. Editions of chosen sixteen preachings with introductions are added to demonstrate (or relativise) the conclusions of the first part of the thesis. Festive preaching in Bohemia was essentially influenced by legends, German Catholic preaching and myths and folk-tales. Emphasis on Christian morality is typical for Sunday preaching, however, it also appears in festive preachings. The influence of festive and occasional preaching of the end of the 17th and the first half of the 18th century on...