THE ANALYSIS OF FORMULA IN THE LEGEND OF JAPANESE SAMURAI RUROUNI KENSHIN AND MIYAMOTO MUSHASI: POPULAR LITERARY APPROACH

Abstract

This research examined the formulation of legendary heroic stories and popular in Japan about the story of Rurouni Kenshin or often referred to as Samurai X and Miyamoto Mushashi atu called Samurai I. The two stories are then adapted into the screen and get a positive response and even enter in star 7 in the Box Office and imdb. It’s clear that the two of the stories surged as apopular works and deserve to be analyzed by using the popular literature approach. To examine the hypothesis, researchers used the Cawelty theory with the terminology of formula/formulae. By using the Cawelty concept, this research examined the formulas used in both Japanese legend stories Rurouni Kenshin and Miyamoto Mushashi regarding similarities and differences as well as the factors that caused them to become popular according to the values and tastes of the audience. The results of the study indicated that the two action legends generally have the same action story formula as the cawelty formula, story/narrative structure, and similar motives for action. The difference from the two stories lines mainly in the way of author presents mythology and metaphor. Formula is one of the main factors that make a story like and get a positive response in the market, including consistency, originality, and the ability to attract miracles, place and style in the presentation of stories.