Roma Identity (Romipen) in Romany Folktales (Paramisa) in Slovakia

The paper is a continuation of literary-historical research on Roma literature for children and youth in Slovakia, which shows the quantitative increase and generic variety of Romany literature, where the dominant literary genre is the Romany folktale (paramisi). The paper is of a literary-theoretical nature. T he analysis of Romany folktales (paramisa) by Romany authors – D. Banga, E. Lacková, and J. Berky-Ľuborecký – highlights the specific features of Roma identity (romipen) in the authentically depicted fates of Roma literary protagonists, in their characteristic features, in images of their lifestyle, in their interpersonal relations, and in their spiritual world. The recognition of Roma identity in literature for children and youth can contribute to the manifestation of the self-identification and emancipation efforts of Roma as a minority population group, to an understanding of their way of life and value system in the majority society, and to the acceptance and tolerance of the otherness of members of the Roma ethnic group in Slovakia.